LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 


A6R1C. 
LIBRARY 


Class 


THE 


PRACTICAL 

POULTRY    KEEPER 

3  Complete  anD  ^>taniarti  <§ufoe 

TO   THE 

MANAGEMENT  OF  POULTRY, 


\VHETHER    FOR 


IMJ.MESTIC    USE,    THE    MARKETS,    OR    EXHIBITION 


BY    L.    WRIGHT. 


UNIVERSITY  FOURTH    EDITION 


NEW    YORK: 
ORANGE    JUDD    AND     COMPANY, 

245,    BROADWAY. 


UBBMT 


By  special  arrangement,  the  sale  of  this  book  in  the  United 
States  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  Messrs.  ORANGE  JUDD  AND  Co., 
of  New  York. 

CASSELL,  PETTEE,  &  GALriN, 

London  and  New  York. 


CONTENTS. 


SECTION    I. 

PAOB 

THE  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  DOMESTIC  POULTRY,  WITH  A 

VIEW  TO  PROFIT: — 
Chapter  I. — Houses  and  Runs ;  and  the  Appliances  necessary 

to  keeping  Poultry  with  Success     3 

Chapter  II.— On  the  System  of  Operations,  and  the  Selection 

of  Stock  14 

Chapter  III. — The  Feeding  and  General    Management  of 

adult  Fowls       20 

Chapter  IV. — Incubation 34 

Chapter  V.— The  Bearing  and  Fattening  of  Chickens           ...     44 
Chapter  VL— Diseases  of  Poultry         55 

SECTION   II. 

THE  BREEDING  AND  EXHIBITION  OF  PRIZE  POULTRY: — 

Chapter  VII. — Yards  and  Accommodation  adapted  for  Breed- 
ing Prize  Poultry  63 

Chapter  VIII.— On  the  Scientific  Principles  of  Breeding, 

and  the  Effects  of  Crossing  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  70 

Chapter  IX.— On  the  Practical  Selection  and  Care  of  Breed- 
ing Stock,  and  the  Bearing  of  Chickens  for  Exhibition...  80 

Chapter  X. — On  "  Condition,"  and  the  Preparation  of  Fowls 
for  Exhibition;  and  various  other  Matters  connected 
with  Shows  90 

SECTION  HI. 

DIFFERENT  BREEDS  OF  FOWLS:  THEIR  CHARACTERISTIC  POINTS, 
WITH  A  COMPARISON  OF  THEIR  MERITS  AND  PRINCIPAL 
DEFECTS  •— 

Chapter  XL— Cochin-Chinas  or  Shanghaes     101 

Chapter  XII.— Brahma  Pootras 105 


iV  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Chapter  XIII.— Malays 116 

Chapter  XIV.— Game        118 

Chapter  XV.— Dorkings 126 

Chapter  XVI.— Spanish 131 

Chapter  XVIL— Hamburghs       138 

Chapter  XVIII.— Polands  145 

Chapter  XIX.— French  Breeds 151 

Chapter  XX.— Bantams    ...        „ 162 

Chapter  XXL— The  "  Various  "  Class 167 

SECTION  IV. 

TURKEYS,  ORNAMENTAL  POULTRY,  AND  WATERFOWL:— 

Chapter  XXIL— Turkeys.     Guinea-fowl.    Pea-fowl 173 

Chapter  XXIII.— Pheasants       185 

Chapter  XXIV.— Water-fowl      190 


SECTION  V. 

THE  HATCHING  AND  REARING  OF  CHICKENS  ARTIFICIALLY: — 

Chapter  XXV. — The  Incubator  and  its  Management           ...  203 
Chapter  XXVI.— Eearing  Chickens  Artificially         213 

SECTION  VI. 

THE  BREEDING  AND  MANAGEMENT  or  POULTRY  UPON  A  LARGE 

SCALE  : — 
Chapter    XXVII. — Separate    Establishments    for    Eearing 

Poultry.    Poultry  on  the  Farm.     Conclusion 221 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTBATIONS. 


PACK 

GROUND  PLAN  AND  ELEVATION  OF  POULTRY  HOUSE     11 

FEEDING-DISH         26 

COVER  FOR  FEEDING-DISH           26 

POULTRY-FOUNTAIN            ...        . 29 

PROTECTION  FOR  THE  HEN  WHILST  SITTING       38 

MODE  OF  TESTING  EGGS    ...         41 

COOP  FOR  HEN  WITH  CHICKENS 46 

COOP   FOR  TRANSPORTING   HEN  AND  BROOD          48 

WIRE-COVERED  RUN  FOB  YOUNG  CHICKENS  49 

FATTENING  PENS 52 

PLAN  OP  MR.  H.  LANE'S  POULTRY-YARD  65 

„  Ms.  R.  W.  BOYLE'S  „  68 

CREVECXEUR  FOWLS  152 

LA  FLECHE  COCKEREL  155 

„  PULLET  156 

HOUDAN  COCK  157 

„  HEN  158 

BREDA  FOWLS  159 

SILKY  „  169 

BARN-DOOR  „  171 

BRINDLEY'S  INCUBATOR  205 

SECTION  OF  MR.  F.  H.  SCHRODER'S  INCUBATOR  207 

COLONEL  STUART  "WORTLEY'S  INCUBATOR  212 

MR.  F.  H.  SCHRODER'S  "MOTHER"  215 

THE  POULTRY-HOUSE  AT  BELATR  225 


VI  LIST   OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

VIEW  OF  HEN-HOUSE 22(j 

PLAN  OF           „                227 

THE  OPEN  RUNS  FOR  CHICKENS  AND  FOWLS 229 

ARRANGEMENT  OF  GROUND  FLOOR  OF  POULTRY-HOUSE            230 

THE  HATCHING-ROOM        231 

FEEDING-COOPS       232 

THE  PORTABLE  HATCHING  BASKET         ...        ... 233 

THE  KITCHEN        ...  233 

THE  STORE-ROOM 234 

THE  AUDEOD  CORN-BIN 235 

SEPARATE    PLATES. 

SILVER-PENCILLED  HAMBURGHS      ...         ...         ...         ...  Frontispiece 

WHITE  COCHINS        ...         ...      Facing  p.  101 

FEATHERS      „  107 

DARK  BRAHMAS        „  108 

DUCK-WING  GAME -..,            „  121 

GREY  DORKINGS       „  127 

WHITE-FACED  BLACK  SPANISH       ...         „  131 

SlLVTCR-SP ANGLED   POLAXDS                  „  147 

BLACK  AND  SEBRIGHT  BANTAMS „  163 

VARIEGATED  CAMBRIDGE  TURKEYS           ...        ,,,        ...            „  180 

ROUEN  AND  AYLESBIJRY  DUCKS      „  191 

TOULOUSE  GEESE     ...            „  197 


PREFACE. 


WITH  at  least  half  a  dozen  books  upon  the  subject  of  Poultry 
ill  ready  at  the  choice  of  the  reader,  some  apology  may  be 
deemed  necessary  for  the  publication  of  yet  another. 

Such  our  apology  is  very  brief,  and  rests  in  the  simple  fact 
that  a  practical  treatise — authoritative  and  comprehensive,  yet> 
simple  and  popular — has  yet  to  be  supplied.  We  are  not  to 
the  present  time  aware  of  any  work  we  could  put  into  the- 
hands  of  a  person  totally  ignorant  of  poultry  keeping,  with  the 
reasonable  certainty  that  its  instructions,  if  followed,  would 
command  success.  Descriptions  of  breeds  there  are  in  plenty, 
some  of  them  of  great  value  ;  but  very  little  has  been  written 
respecting  the  practical  details  of  even  ordinary  poultry 
management ;  and  with  regard  to  two  very  important  parts  of 
the  subject — the  breeding  and  rearing  of  poultry  for  exhi- 
bition, and  artificial  incubation — absolutely  nothing  has  yet 
been  published  in  a  connected  form. 

To  occupy  this  field  is  one  object  of  the  following  pages ; 
which  are  the  fruit  of  a  thorough  practical  experience  and 
knowledge  of  fowls,  and  will,  we  believe,  be  found  a  plain  and 
sufficient  guide  to  the  merest  tyro  in  any  circumstances  that 
are  likely  to  occur  to  him ;  whilst  even  experienced  breeders, 
we  hope,  may  also  find  hints  which  may  be  useful  to  them. 

Yet,  whilst  thus  paying  special  attention  to  practical 
management,  the  different  breeds  have  not  been  overlooked ;  and 


viii  PREFACE. 

of  eveiy  leading  variety,  at  least,  sufficient  description  has  been 
given  to  answer  every  purpose  of  the  fancier.  Where  we  have 
permission  to  give  them,  the  eminent  names  appended  to  the 
different  chapters  will  be  ample  guarantee  for  the  correctness 
of  this  portion  of  our  work;  but  it  is  in  every  case  to  be  under- 
stood that  we  do  not  rely  alone  upon  our  own  careful  study  of 
the  best  specimens,  but  have  the  highest  authority  in  each 
breed  for  every  statement  made  respecting  it.  It  is  the  more 
necessary  to  state  this,  because  we  have  been  compelled  in 
a  few  cases  to  dissent  from  the  well-known  "Standard  of 
Excellence  " — usually  most  reliable,  and  hitherto  the  generally 
recognised  authority  on  this  part  of  the  subject. 

It  only  remains  to  thank  those  who  have  aided  us,  and 
placed  their  valuable  experience  and  knowledge  at  the  service 
of  the  public.  Some  of  these  are  old  friends  :  others  are,  or  at 
least  were,  personal  strangers.  'But  in  either  case  we  feel  plea- 
sure in  recording  that,  in  nearly  every  instance,  any  assistance 
requested  has  been  accorded  as  frankly  as  it  was  asked,  and 
has  frequently  led  to  after  intercourse  of  a  most  pleasant  kind ; 
and  that  to  the  cheerful  and  kindly  aid  of  the  most  eminent 
breeders  in  the  kingdom  these  pages  owe  much  of  whatever 
value  they  may  have. 

Kingsdown,  Bristol, 

January  31,  1867. 


SECTION  I. 


GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  DOMESTIC  POULTRY, 

WITH    A    VIEW    TO    PROFIT. 


TO    THE    READER. 


THE  pages  of  this  Section  are  not  intended  simply  to  be 
read  and  commended ;  but  the  directions  given  are  such 
as  are  proper  for  the  circumstances  therein  referred  to, 
and  are  the  price  to  be  paid  for  health  and  eggs. 

For  instance :  when  it  is  said  that  the  roosting-house 
should  be  cleansed  daily,  it  is  meant  that  it  should  be  done. 
When  it  is  said  that  fowls  in  confinement  should  have 
daily  fresh  vegetable  food,  it  is  intended  to  convey  that 
such  food  must  be  regularly  given.  And  so  on. 

Let  the  reader  deal  fairly  by  us  and  by  his  poultry. 
So  will  the  latter  deal  fairly  by  him. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 


OF  J 

-•'  >iX 
GENEKAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  FOWLS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

HOUSES   AND   RUNS;     AND   THE   APPLIANCES    NECESSARY   TO    KEEP- 
ING  POULTRY   WITH   SUCCESS. 

FOWLS  should  not  be  kept  unless  proper  and  regular  attention  can 
be  given  to  them ;  and  we  would  strongly  urge  that  this  needful 
attention  should  be  personal.  Our  own  experience  has  taught 
us  that  domestics  are  rarely  to  be  relied  upon  in  many  matters 
essential  both  to  economy  and  the  well-being  of  the  stock; 
and,  if  any  objection  be  made  on  the  score  of  dignity,  we  could 
not  only  point  to  high-born  ladies  who  do  not  think  it  beneath 
them  to  attend  to  their  own  fowls,  but  can  aver  that  even  the 
most  menial  offices  can  be  performed  in  any  properly-constructed 
fowl-house  without  so  much  as  soiling  the  fingers.  If  there  be 
children  in  the  family  old  enough  to  undertake  such  matters, 
they  will  be  both  pleased  and  benefited  by  attending  to  what  will 
soon  become  their  pets  ;  if  not,  the  owner  must  either  attend  to 
them  himself,  or  take  such  oversight  as  shall  be  effectual  in 
securing  not  only  proper  care  of  his  birds,  but  of  his  own  meal 
and  grain.  If  he  be  unable  or  unwilling  to  do  at  least  as  much 
as  this,  he  had  far  better  not  engage  in  such  an  undertaking 
at  all. 

The  first  essential  requisite  to  success  in  poultry-keeping  is  a 
thoroughly  good  house  for  the  birds  to  roost  and  lay  in.      This 

B  2 


4:  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF    FOWLS. 

does  not  necessarily  imply  a  large  one  or  a  costly  :  we  once 
znew  a  young  man  who  kept  fowls  most  profitably,  with  only 
a  house  of  his  own  construction  not  more  than  three  feet 
square,  and  a  run  of  the  same  width,  under  twelve  feet 
long.  It  means  simply  that  the  fowl-house  must  combine  two 
absolute  essentials — be  both  perfectly  weatherproof,  and  well 
ventilated. 

With  regard  to  the  first  point,  it  is  not  only  necessary  to 
keep  out  the  rain  but  also  the  wind — a  matter  very  seldom 
attended  to  as  it  ought  to  be,  but  which  has  great  influence  011 
the  health  and  laying  of  the  inmates.  The  cheapest  material  is 
wood,  of  which  an  inch  thick  will  answer  very  well  in  any 
ordinary  English  climate;  but  if  so  built,  the  boards  must 
either  be  tongued  together,  or  all  the  cracks  between  them  care- 
fully caulked  by  driving  in  string  with  a  blunt  chisel.  Care 
should  also  be  taken  that  the  door  fits  well,  admitting  no  air 
except  under  the  bottom;  and,  in  short,  every  precaution 
taken  to  prevent  draught.  The  hole  by  which  the  fowls  enter, 
even  when  its  loose  trap-door  is  closed,  should  admit  enough  air 
to  supply  the  inmates,  and  the  object  is  to  have  but  this  one 
source  of  supply,  and  to  keep  the  fowls  out  of  all  direct 
draught  from  it.  For  the  roof,  tiles  alone  are  not  sufficient, 
and  if  employed  at  all,  there  should  be  either  boarding  or  ceil- 
ing under  them  ;  otherwise  all  the  heat  will  escape  through 
the  numerous  interstices,  and  in  winter  it  will  be  impossible  to 
keep  the  house  warm.  Planks  alone  make  a  good  roofing.  They 
may  either  be  laid  horizontally,  one  plank  overlapping  the  other, 
and  the  whole  well  tarred  two  or  three  times  first  of  all,  and 
every  autumn  afterwards  ;  or  perpendicularly,  fitting  close  edge 
to  edge,  and  tarred,  then  covered  with  large  sheets  of  brown  paper, 
which  should  receive  two  coats  of  tar  more.  This  last  makes  a 
very  smooth,  weatherproof,  and  durable  roofing,  which  throws 
off  the  water  well.  But,  on  the  whole,  we  prefer  board  covered 
with  patent  felt,  which  should  be  'tarred  once  a  year. 


IMPORTANCE    OF    VENTILATION.  5 

In  the  north  of  England,  a  house  built  of  wood,  unless  arti- 
ficially warmed,  requires  some  sort  of  lining.  Matting  is  often 
used,  and  answers  perfectly  for  warmth,  but  unfortunately 
makes  a  capital  harbour  for  vermin.  If  employed  at  all,  it 
should  only  be  slightly  affixed  to  the  walls,  and  at  frequent  in- 
tervals be  removed  and  well  beaten.  Felt  is  the  best  material,  the 
strong  smell  of  tar  repelling  most  insects  from  taking  up  their 
residence  therein. 

If  a  tight  brick  shed  offers,  it  will,  of  course,  be  secured  for 
the  poultry  habitation.  But  let  all  dilapidations  be  well 
repaired. 

Ventilation  is  scarcely  ever  provided  for  as  it  should  be, 
and  the  want  of  it  is  a  fruitful  source  of  failure  and  disease. 
An  ill-ventilated  fowl-house  must  cause  sickly  inmates;  and 
such  will  never  repay  the  proprietor.  This  great  desideratum 
must,  however,  as  already  observed,  be  secured  without  exposing 
the  fowls  to  any  direct  draught;  and  for  the  ordinary  detached 
fowl-houses,  the  best  plan  is  to  have  an  opening  at  the  highest 
point  of  the  roof,  surmounted  by  a  "  lantern "  of  boards,  put 
together  in  the  well-known  fashion  of  Venetian  blinds. 

A  south  or  south-east  aspect  is  desirable,  where  it  can  be 
had ;  and  to  have  the  house  at  the  back  either  of  a  fire-place  or 
a  stable  is  a  great  advantage  in  winter  ;  but  we  have  proved  by 
long  experience  that  both  can  be  successfully  dispensed  with 
if  only  the  two  essentials  are  combined,  of  good  ventilation  with 
perfect  shelter. 

"We  do  not  approve  of  too  large  a  house.  For  half-a-dozen 
fowls,  a  veiy  good  size  is  five  feet  square,  and  sloping  from  six 
ty>  eight  feet  high.  The  nests  may  then  be  placed  on  the  ground 
at  the  back,  where  any  eggs  can  be  readily  seen;  and  one  perch 
will  roost  all  the  birds.  This  perch,  unless  the  breed  kept  is 
small,  had  better  not  be  more  than  eighteen  inches  from  the 
ground,  and  should  be  about  four  inches  in  diameter.  A  rough 
pole  with  the  bark  on  answers  V-est:  the  claws  cling  to  it 


6  GENERAL    MANAGEMENT    OF    FOWLS. 

nicely,  and  bark  is  not  so  hard  as  planed  wood.  By  far  the 
greater  number  of  perches  are  much  too  high  and  small ;  the 
one  fault  causing  heavy  fowls  to  lame  themselves  in  flying 
down,  and  the  other  producing  deformed  breastbones  in  the 
chickens — an  occurrence  disgraceful  to  any  poultry-yard.  The 
air  at  the  top  of  any  room  or  house  is,  moreover,  much  more 
impure  than  that  nearer  the  floor. 

Many  prefer  a  movable  perch  fixed  on  trestles.  In  large 
houses  they  are  useful,  but  in  a  smaller  they  are  needless.  If 
the  perch  be  placed  at  the  height  indicated,  and  a  little  in 
advance  of  the  front  edge  of  the  nests,  placed  at  the  back,  no 
hen-ladder  will  be  required ;  and  the  floor  being  left  quite 
clear,  will  be  cleaned  with  the  greatest  ease,  while  the  fowls 
will  feel  no  draught  from  the  door. 

Besides  the  house  for  roosting  and  laying,  a  shed  is  neces- 
sary, to  which  the  birds  may  resort  in  rainy  weather.  Should 
the  house,  indeed,  be  very  large  and  have  a  good  window, 
this  is  not  absolutely  needed ;  otherwise  it  must  be  provided, 
and  is  better  separate  in  any  case.  If  this  shed  be  fenced  in 
with  wire,  so  that  the  fowls  may  be  strictly  confined  during  wet 
weather,  so  much  the  better ;  for  next  to  bad  air,  wet  is  by  far 
the  most  fruitful  source,  not  only  of  barrenness,  but  of  illness 
and  death  in  the  poultry-yard.  If  the  space  available  be  very 
limited — say  five  or  six  feet  by  twelve  or  sixteen — the  whole 
should  be  roofed  over;  when  the  house  will  occupy  one  end  of 
the  space,  and  the  rest  will  form  a  covered  "  run."  But  in  this 
case  the  shed  should  be  so  arranged  that  sun-light  may  reach 
the  birds  during  some  part  of  the  day.  They  not  only  enjoy  it, 
but  without  it,  although  adult  fowls  may  be  kept  for  a  time  in 
tolerable  health,  they  droop  sooner  or  later,  and  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  rear  healthy  chickens. 

Should  the  range  be  wider,  a  shed  from  six  to  twenty  feet 
long  and  four  to  eight  wide  may  be  reared  against  the  wall. 
Next  the  fowl-house  will  still,  for  obvious  reasons,  be  the  most 


CLEANLINESS.  7 

convenient  arrangement,  and  it  is  also  best  fenced  in,  as  before 
recommended.  The  whole  roof  should  be  in  one  to  look  neat, 
and  should  project  about  a  foot  beyond  the  enclosed  space,  to 
throw  the  water  well  off.  To  save  the  roof  drippings  from 
splashing  in,  a  gutter-shoot  will  of  course  be  provided,  and  the 
wire  should  be  boarded  up  a  foot  from  the  ground.  All  this 
being  carried  out  properly,  the  covered  "run"  ought  at  all 
times  to  be  perfectly  dry. 

The  best  flooring  for  the  fowl-house  is  concrete  made  with 
strong,  fresh-slaked  hydraulic  lime  and  pounded  "clinkers,"  put 
down  hot,  well  trodden  once  a  day  for  a  week,  and  finally 
smoothed.  The  process  is  troublesome,  but  the  result  is  a  floor 
which  is  not  only  very  clean  in  itself,  but  easily  kept  so. 
Trodden  earth  will  also  answer  very  well.  The  floor  of  the 
shed  may  be  the  same,  but,  on  the  whole,  it  is  preferable  there 
to  leave  the  natural  loose  earth,  which  the  fowls  delight  to 
scratch  in. 

Cleanliness  must  be  attended  to.  In  the  house  it  is  easily 
secured  by  laying  a  board  under  the  perch,  which  can  be 
scraped  clean  every  morning  in  a  moment,  and  the  air  the 
fowls  breathe  thus  kept  perfectly  pure.  Or  the  droppings  may 
be  taken  up  daily  with  a  small  hoe  and  a  housemaid's  common 
dustpan,  after  which  a  handful  of  ashes  or  sand  lightly  sprinkled 
will  make  the  house  all  it  should  be. 

There  is  another  most  excellent  plan  for  preserving  clean- 
liness in  the  roosting-house,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to 
Tlie  Canada  Farmer,  and  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  1.  A  broad 
shelf  (a)  is  fixed  at  the  back  of  the  house,  and  the  perch 
placed  four  or  five  inches  above  it,  a  foot  from  the  wall. 
The  nests  are  conveniently  placed  on  the  ground  under- 
neath, and  need  no  top,  whilst  they  are  perfectly  protected 
from  defilement  and  are  also  well  shaded,  to  the  great  delighi 
of  the  hen.  The  shelf  is  scraped  clean  every  morning  with  the 
greatest  ease  and  comfort,  on  account  of  its  convenient  height, 


8 


GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  FOWLS. 


and  slightly  sanded  afterwards  j  whilst  the  floor  of  the  house  is 
never  polluted  at  all  by  the  roosting  birds.  The  broad  shelf 
has  yet  another  recommendation  in  the  perfect  protection  it 
affords  from  upward  draughts  of  air. 


i. 


a  Broad  shelf,  eighteen  inches  high. 

b  Perch,  four  inches  above. 

9  Nests,  open  at  top  and  in  front. 

The  covered  "  run  "  should  be  raked  over  two  or  three 
times  a  week,  and  dug  over  whenever  it  looks  sodden  or  gives 
any  offensive  smell.  Even  this  is  not  sufficient.  Three  or  four 
times  a  year,  two  or  three  inches  deep — in  fact,  the  whole  pol- 
luted soil — must  be  removed,  and  replaced  by  fresh  earth, 
gravel,  or  ashes,  as  the  case  may  be. 

Under  the  shed  must  be  constantly  kept  a  heap  of  dry 
dust  or  sifted  ashes,  for  the  fowls  to  roll  in  and  cleanse  them- 
selves in  their  own  peculiar  manner,  which  should  be  renewed 
as  often  as  it  becomes  damp  or  foul  from  use. 

If  chickens  be  a  part  of  the  intended  plan,  a  separate  com- 


POULTRY   IN   CONFINEMENT.  9 

partment  should  be  provided  for  the  sitting  hens  ;  but  this  will 
be  further  treated  of  in  a  subsequent  chapter. 

Many  "will  wish  to  know  what  space  is  necessary.  The 
"  run  "  for  the  fowls  should  certainly  be  as  large  as  can  be 
afforded ;  an  extensive  range  is  not  only  better  for  their  health, 
but  saves  both  trouble  and  food,  as  they  will  to  a  great  extent 
forage  for  themselves.  Very  few,  however,  can  command  this ; 
and  poultry  may  be  kept  almost  anywhere  by  bearing  in  mind 
the  one  important  point,  that  the  smaller  the  space  in  which 
they  are  confined,  the  greater  and  more  constant  attention 
must  be  bestowed  upon  the  cleanliness  of  their  domain.  They 
decline  rapidly  in  health  and  produce  if  kept  on  foul  ground. 
If  daily  attention  be  given  to  this  matter,  a  covered  shed  ten 
or  twelve  feet  long  by  six  feet  wide,  may  be  made  to  suffice  for 
half  a  dozen  fowls  without  any  open  run  at  all.  By  employing  a 
layer  of  dry  earth  as  a  deodoriser,  which  is  turned  over  eveiy  day 
and  renewed  once  a  week,  the  National  Poultry  Company  have 
hitherto  kept  such  a  family  in  each  pen  of  their  large  establish- 
ment at  Bromley.  These  pens  do  not  exceed  the  size  men- 
tioned, yet  the  adult  fowls  at  least  are  in  the  highest  health  and 
condition;  and  the  company  have,  with  birds  thus  confined, 
taken  many  prizes  at  first-class  shows. 

Poultry-keeping  is,  therefore,  within  the  reach  of  all.  The 
great  thing  is  purity,  which  must  be  secured,  either  by  space, 
or  in  default  of  that,  by  care.  Hardy  fowls  will  sometimes 
thrive  in  spite  of  draughts,  exposure,  and  scanty  food  ;  but 
the  strongest  birds  speedily  succumb  to  bad  management  in 
this  particular,  which  is  perhaps  the  most  frequent  cause  of 
failure.  It  should  also  be  remarked  that  poultry  thus  confined 
will  require  a  different  diet  to  those  kept  more  at  liberty  ;  but 
this  will  be  more  fully  explained  in  a  succeeding  chapter. 

If  the  run  be  on  the  limited  scale  described,  diy  earth  is 
decidedly  the  best  deodoriser.  It  is,  however,  seldom  at  the 
command  of  those  who  have  little  space  to  spare,  and  sifted 


10  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  FOWLS. 

ashes  an  inch  deep,  spread  over  the  floor  of  the  whole  shed,  will 
answer  very  well.  The  ashes  should  be  raked  every  other 
morning,  and  renewed  at  least  every  fortnight,  or  oftener  if 
possible.  Of  course,  the  number  of  fowls  must  be  limited  . 
they  should  not  exceed  five  or  six,  and  unless  a  second  shed  of 
the  same  size  can  be  allowed,  the  rearing  of  chickens  should  not 
be  attempted. 

To  those  who  can  give  up  a  portion  of  their  garden,  the 
following  plan  of  a  poultry-yard  can  be  confidently  recom- 
mended. It  represents,  with  very  slight  modification,  our  own 
present  accommodation ;  and  having  tested  it  by  experience,  we 
are  prepared  to  say  that  it  is  not  only  more  convenient,  more 
simple,  and  more  cheaply  erected  than  any  plan  on  a  similar 
scale  we  have  seen,  but,  with  the  addition  of  a  lawn  on  which 
the  chickens  may  be  cooped,  is  adapted  to  rearing  in  the  highest 
perfection  any  single  variety  of  either  ordinary  or  "fancy" 
fowls.  The  space  required  in  all  is  only  twenty-five  by 
thirty-five  feet.  If  more  can  be  afforded,  give  it,  by  all  means; 
but  we  have  found  this,  with  very  moderate  care,  amply 
sufficient,  and  we  believe  it  will  meet  the  requirements  of  a 
larger  class  of  readers  than  any  other  we  are  acquainted 
with. 

The  plan  here  given,  it  will  be  seen,  comprises  two  distinct 
houses,  sheds,  and  runs,  with  a  separate  compartment  for 
sitting  hens.  The  nests  are  placed  on  the  ground  at  the  back 
of  the  houses,  and  the  perches,  as  before  recommended,  a  foot  in 
advance  of  them,  and  eighteen  inches  high.  The  holes  by  which 
the  fowls  enter  open  into  the  sheds,  which  are  netted  in,  so 
that  in  wet  weather  they  can  be  altogether  confined.  In  dry 
weather  the  shed  is  opened  to  give  them  liberty.  The  fencing 
should  be  boarded  up  a  foot  high,  not  only  to  prevent  rain 
splashing  in,  but  to  keep  in  when  necessary  young  chickens, 
which  would  otherwise  run  out  between  the  meshes. 

A  walk  in  front  of  the  sheds  should  be  gravelled,  and  the 


ELEVATION 


A  A  Roosting  and  laying  houses. 
B  B  Fenced-in  covered  runs. 
C  C  Shed  and  run  for  sitting  hens. 
DD  Grass  runs. 


a  a  Nests. 

b  b  Perches. 

c  c  Holss  for  fowls  to  anter. 


12  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

remainder  of  the  open  runs  laid  down  in  grass,  which,  if  well 
rooted  first,  will  bear  the  fowls  upon  it  for  several  hours  each 
day,  but  should  be  renewed  in  the  spring  by  sowing  when 
needed.  The  runs  should  be  enclosed  with  wire  netting,  two 
inches  mesh,  which  may  be  conveniently  stretched  on  poles 
1J  inch  square,  driven  two  feet  into  the  ground,  and  placed 
five  feet  apart.  The  height  of  the  fence  depends  on  the  breed 
chosen.  Cochins  or  Brahmas  are  easily  retained  within  bounds 
by  netting  a  yard  high  ;  for  moderate-sized  fowls  six  feet  will 
do;  whilst  to  confine  Game,  Hamburghs,  or  Bantams,  a  fence 
of  eight  or  nine  feet  will  be  found  necessary.  The  netting 
should  be  simply  stretched  from  post  to  post,  without  a  rail  at 
the  top,  as  the  inmates  are  then  far  less  likely  to  attempt  flying 
over. 

We  do  not  like  to  see  fowls  with  their  wings  cut.  If  their 
erratic  propensities  are  troublesome,  open  one  wing,  and  pluck 
out  all  the  first  or  flight  feathers,  usually  ten  in  number.  This 
will  effectually  prevent  the  birds  from  flying,  and  as  the  primary 
quills  are  always  tucked  under  the  others  when  not  in  use, 
there  is  no  external  sign  of  the  operation. 

The  holes  by  which  the  fowls  enter  the  houses  should  be 
furnished  with  trap  doors,  that  they  may  be  kept  out  at  pleasure 
whilst  either  part  is  being  cleaned.  Each  house  must  also 
have  a  small  window.  Having  a  shed  at  the  side,  ventilating 
lanterns  will  not  be  necessary,  as  the  end  will  be  attained  by 
boring  a  few  holes  in  the  wall  between  the  house  and  shedj 
towards  the  highest  part  of  the  roof. 

The  compartment  for  the  sitting  hen  may  be  walled  in  at  the 
front  or  not ;  for  ourselves,  we  prefer  it  open.  Her  run  may 
also  be  covered  over  or  not,  at  pleasure.  To  have  it  in  the 
middle,  as  here  shown,  we  consider  most  convenient ;  but  in  our 
own  case  this  compartment  is  at  the  side,  instead  of  between 
the  two  houses,  which  we  built  close  together.  This  was 
rendered  advisable  on  account  of  our  shed  having  unavoidably  a 


PLAN    OF    THE    YARD.  15 

due  easterly  exposure ;  and  by  so  arranging  the  premises  that 
each  inhabited  house  should  have  one  adjoining,  we  ensured 
to  both  one  comparatively  warm  side,  and  thus,  in  a  measure, 
counteracted  the  evil.  We  give  this  little  bit  of  personal 
experience  in  order  that  the  reader  may  see  the  way  in  which 
varying  considerations  are  to  be  weighed  before  a  plan  is 
finally  determined  on. 

Such  a  yard  possesses  many  advantages.  Two  separate  runs 
are  almost  necessary  if  the  rearing  of  chickens  forms  part  of 
the  plan  of  proceeding.  It  is  also  in  some  respects  convenient 
to  keep  two  different  breeds,  as  one  may  supply  the  deficiencies 
of  the  other;  and  many  persons  consider  it  advisable  to 
separate  the  cocks  and  hens,  except  during  the  breeding  season, 
believing  that  stronger  chickens  are  obtained  thereby.  The 
need  of  the  separate  compartment  for  the  sitting  hens  is  further 
insisted  on  hereafter,  but  it  has  also  other  uses;  being,  when  not 
so  employed,  often  very  convenient  for  the  temporary  reception 
of  a  pen  of  strange  birds,  for  which  there  may  be  no  other 
accommodation. 

Each  run  will  accommodate  from  six  to  ten  fowls,  according 
to  their  size  and  habits. 

For  those  who  purpose  to  engage  in  wholesale  or  prize 
poultry-breeding,  more  extensive  designs  will  be  given  here- 
after; but  enough  has  now  been  said  to  enable  the  intending 
poultry-keeper  to  select  from  the  different  plans  here  indicated 
the  one  best  adapted  to  his  particular  situation,  or,  mayhap,  to 
contrive  a  better  one  of  his  own.  We  have  pointed  out  the 
essentials;  and  these  being  provided  for,  operations  can  be 
commenced,  and  it  becomes  necessary  to  determine  upon  the 
plan  of  proceeding.  This,  however,  will  be  more  fully  treated 
of  in  the  next  chapter. 


14  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OP  FOWLS. 


CHAPTER   II. 

ON  THE   SYSTEM    OP   OPERATIONS,    AND   THE    SELECTION   OF   STOCK 

WHEN  poultry  are  kept  as  a  branch  of  domestic  economics,  it 
will  be  obvious  that  the  system  to  be  pursued  should  vary 
according  to  the  extent  of  accommodation  which  can  be 
afforded,  and  to  the  object  sought.  Both  these  considerations 
should  be  well  weighed  before  operations  are  commenced;  and  the 
plan  then  determined  upon  as  best  adapted  to  the  circumstances 
should,  as  long  as  those  circumstances  remain  the  same,  be 
consistently  carried  out  and  adhered  to. 

It  very  frequently  happens  that  a  regular  supply  of  eggs  is 
the  sole  object  in  view,  and  that  neither  the  time,  trouble,  nor 
space  required  to  rear  chickens  with  success  can  well  be  spared. 
If,  for  instance,  a  covered  shed  fenced  in  with  wire,  as  described 
in  the  last  chapter,  with  a  small  house  at  the  end  for  roosting 
and  laying  in,  be  the  sole  accommodation  for  the  fowls,  to 
attempt  rearing  them  would  be  folly ;  *  and  yet  they  may  be 
kept  so  as  to  yield  a  good  return  upon  their  cost  and  main- 
tenance. The  proper  plan  in  such  a  case  will  be  to  purchase 
in  the  spring  a  number  of  hens  proportioned  to  the  size  of  the 
run,  and  none  exceeding  a  year  or  eighteen  months  old.  A 
cock  is  useless ;  as  hens  lay,  if  there  be  any  difference,  rather 
better  without  one,  and  where  eggs  only  are  wanted,  his  food  is 
thrown  away.  All  these  birds,  if  in  good  health  and  condition, 
will  either  be  already  laying,  or  will  commence  almost  imme- 
diately ;  and  if  well  housed,  as  in  the  last  chapter,  and 
properly  fed,  will  ensure  a  constant  supply  of  eggs  until  the 
autumnal  moulting  season.  "Whenever  a  hen  shows  any  desire 
to  sit,  the  propensity  must  of  course  be  checked — not  by  the 

*  It  is  not  meant  to  be  denied  that  chickens  can  be  reared  in  such  cir- 
cumstances, and  that  in  good  health  and  to  a  fair  size.  We  have  ourselves 
•done  so  ;  but  it  does  not  pay,  and  we  do  not  intend  to  do  it  again. 


YOUNG    BIRDS   TO    BE   SELECTED.  15 

barbarous  expedient  of  half  drowning  the  poor  bird  in  cold 
water — a  process  generally  as  ineffectual  as  it  is  cruel,  but, 
having  allowed  it  to  sit  on  the  nest  for  four  or  five  days,  by 
shutting  it  up  in  a  dark  place,  with  plenty  of  water,  but  rather 
scanty  food.  The  best  plan  is  to  invert  a  small  cask,  of  which 
the  head  has  been  removed,  upon  three  bricks.  A  hole  being 
bored  near  the  top  for  ventilation,  this  will  make  a  capital  pen 
for  a  "  broody  "  hen,  the  food  and  water  being  placed  just  under 
the  rim.  A  few  days  of  such  confinement  will  take  away  all 
desire  to  sit  from  almost  any  hens  but  Cochins,  which  should 
not  be  kept,  on  that  account,  under  the  circumstances  we  are 
considering  ;  and  in  about  a  fortnight  the  fowl,  if  not  older  than 
we  have  recommended,  will  begin  to  lay  again. 

To  buy  only  young  and  healthy  birds  is  very  important. 
An  experienced  hand  can  tell  an  old  fowl  at  a  glance,  but  it  is 
rather  difficult  to  impart  this  knowledge  to  a  beginner,  for  no 
one  sign  is  infallible,  at  least  to  an  uninitiated  interpreter. 
In  general,  however,  it  may  be  said  that  the  legs  of  a  young 
hen  look  delicate  and  smooth,  her  comb  and  wattles  soft  and 
fresh,  and  her  general  outline,  even  in  good  condition  (unless 
fattened  for  the  table),  rather  light  and  graceful ;  whilst  an  old 
one  will  have  rather  hard,  horny-looking  shanks,  her  comb  and 
wattles  look  somewhat  harder,  drier,  and  more  "scurfy,"  and  her 
figure  is  well  filled  out.  But  any  of  these  indications  may  be 
deceptive,  and  the  only  advice  we  can  give  the  reader  is,  to  use 
his  own  powers  of  observation,  and  try  and  catch  the  "old 
look"  He  will  soon  do  so,  and  need  no  further  description. 

Directly  these  hens  stop  laying  in  the  autumn,  and  before 
they  have  lost  condition  by  moulting,  they  should,  unless 
Hamburghs  or  Brahmas,  be  either  killed  or  sold  off,  and  re- 
placed by  pullets  hatched  in  March  or  April,  which  will  have 
moulted  early.  These  again,  still  supposing  proper  food  and 
good  housing,  will  all  be  producing  eggs  by  November  at 
furthest,  and  continue,  more  or  less,  till  the  February  or  March 


16  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

following.  They  may  then  either  be  disposed  of,  and  replaced 
as  before,  which  we  should  ourselves  prefer,  as  they  are  just  in 
prime  condition  for  the  table ;  or,  as  they  will  not  stop  laying 
very  long,  the  best  of  them  may  be  retained  till  the  autumn, 
when  they  must  be  got  rid  of.*  For  if  fowls  be  kept  for  eggs 
it  is  essential  to  success  that  every  autumn  the  stock  be  replaced 
with  pullets  hatched  early  in  the  spring.  By  no  other  means 
can  eggs  at  this  season  be  relied  upon,  and  the  poultry-keeper 
must  remember  that  it  is  the  ivinter  which  determines  whether 
he  shall  gain  or  lose  by  his  stock  •  in  summer,  if  only  kept 
moderately  clean,  hens  will  pay  for  themselves  treated  almost 
anyhow.  The  only  exception  to  this  rule  is  in  the  case  of 
Cochins,  Brahmas,  or  Hambiirghs,  which  will  lay  through  the 
winter  up  to  their  second,  or  even  third  year. 

The  stock  to  be  selected,  if  a  pure  strain  be  chosen,  are 
Hamburgh  or  Spanish ;  either,  in  favourable  circumstances, 
will  give  a  plentiful  supply  of  eggs,  and  give  no  trouble  on 
the  score  of  sitting  propensities.  The  Spanish  lays  five  or  six 
very  large  eggs  a  week  in  spring  and  summer,  but  is  not  a 
hardy  or  free-laying  breed  for  winter,  and  must  have  a  warm 
aspect  and  perfect  shelter  from  wind,  if  the  supply  is  to  be  kept 
up.  Hamburghs  are  tolerably  hardy,  and  are  capital  winter 
layers  j  they  also  produce  more  eggs  in  a  year  than  any  other 
breed,  laying  almost  every  day  except  when  moulting,  and 
never  wanting  to  sit ;  but  the  eggs  are  rather  small.  More 
than  four  or  five  Hamburghs  should  not  be  put  in  a  shed,  and 
they  must  be  kept  scrupulously  clean;  with  these  conditions 
they  will  thrive,  but  few  breeds  suffer  so  much  from  filth  or 
overcrowding.  Brahmas  may  also  be  strongly  recommended. 
As  layers,  they  are  in  the  very  first  class  ;  are  very  tame,  and 
bear  confinement  well ;  and  the  tendency  to  sit  does  not 

*  That  is,  if  the  greatest  amount  of  profit  be  the  object  sought.  Tho 
question  of  "  pets,"  and  the  pleasure  to  be  derived  from  them,  we  are  not 
considering. 


PUKE   CREEDS   BEST.  17 

occur  often  enough  to  be  troublesome,  as  in  the  case  of 
Cochins. 

When  there  is  a  good  wide  range  of  any  kind,  nothing  will 
be  so  profitable  as  a  few  Game  hens,  the  black-breasted  red 
variety  being  best  The  hens  are  as  prolific  as  any  breed 
whatever,  and  eat  very  little  in  proportion ;  but  they  cannot 
be  kept  in  close  confinement  on  account  of  their  fighting  pro- 
pensities. 

For  ourselves,  we  prefer  pure  breeds,  or  first  crosses ;  for 
after  all  is  said  on  the  superiority  of  mongrel  fowls,  where  is 
the  "  barn-door  "  bird  that  will  lay  as  many  eggs  as  a  Brahma 
or  a  Hamburgh  ?  Still,  the  cost  of  a  good  stock  will  stand  in 
the  way  with  many,  and  has  to  be  taken  into  consideration ; 
and  to  those  who  cannot  afford  "  fancy  "  poultry,  it  may  there- 
fore be  said  once  for  all,  that  on  the  whole,  equal  success  may 
be  attained  with  ordinary  or  "  barn-door "  fowls.  Care  must 
be  taken  in  the  selection.  They  should  be  young,  fair-sized, 
sprightly-looking  birds,  with  plump,  full  breasts,  rather  short 
legs,  and  nice  tight-looking  plumage,  after  such  a  type  as 
shown  on  page  171  j  they  ought  also  to  be  chosen  from  a 
country  yard,  where  their  parents  have  been  well  fed.  If 
such  be  obtained,  they  will  repay  the  purchaser,  and  are  hand- 
somer and  better  every  way  than  inferior  birds  of  the  "  fancy  " 
class.  Of  course,  this  remark  does  not  apply  to  mere  faults 
of  colour.  Fowls  are  often  to  be  met  with  at  a  moderate  price, 
which  from  some  irregularity  of  feather  are  quite  disqualified 
as  show  birds,  but  which  possess  in  perfection  all  the  other  merits 
of  the  breed  to  which  they  belong.  Let  such  be  secured  and 
prized  by  all  means;  but  let  it  be  also  remembered  and  be- 
lieved, that  nothing  pays  so  wretchedly  as  to  begin  "  poultry- 
fancying"  with  inferior  stock,  and  that  really  fine  fowls  which 
never  had  a  grandfather  are  any  day  preferable  to  "  degenerate 
descendants  from  a  line  of  kings." 

It  has  been  already  remarked  that  the  Cochin  breeds  are 

c 


18  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT  OF    FOWLS. 

excellent  layers  in  winter,  but  that  their  invincible  propensity 
to  sit,  which  occurs  every  two  months,  or  even  less,  is  a  fatal 
objection  to  their  being  kept  by  those  who  do  not  desire  the 
care  of  young  broods.  If,  however,  the  system  adopted  depend 
upon  home-reared  chickens  to  replenish  the  stock,  one  or  two 
Cochin  hens  may  be  kept  with  great  advantage,  especially  if  the 
other  fowls  are  Spanish  or  Hamburgh.  The  frequency  of  their 
desire  to  incubate  now  becomes  a  recommendation,  as  the  owner 
can  depend  upon  "  a  broody  hen"  at  almost  any  season  which 
may  suit  his  views ;  and  if  always  parted  with  at  the  age  of 
two  years,  they  will  not  fail  to  maintain  their  deserved 
character  as  good  winter  layers.  The  number  of  such  hens 
must  depend  upon  circumstances.  If  it  be  only  intended  to 
replace  from  time  to  time  the  laying  stock,  or  to  hatch  the  eggs 
of  non-sitting  varieties,  one  or  two  Cochins  will  furnish  more 
broods  than  will  be  required ;  and  when  their  services  are  no 
longer  needed  in  this  way,  the  desire  to  sit  must  be  hindered 
as  already  described.  In  this  case  the  eggs  should  be  set  in 
March  or  April,  that  the  young  pullets  may  begin  to  lay  early. 
In  proportion  to  the  number  of  broods  desired  may  the  number 
of  Cochins  be  increased ;  and  if  a  constant  supply  of  chickens 
for  the  table  be — as  it  often  is — the  main  end  in  view,  they 
may  form  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  stock,  and  every 
hen  may  be  set  in  turn.  Their  own  eggs,  of  course,  should  not 
be  given  them  if  the  chickens  be  for  market,  unless  running 
with  a  Dorking,  Houdan,  or  Crefvecceur  cock,  either  of  which 
crosses  produces  a  gigantic  table-fowl  of  very  fair  edible 
qualities.  For  home  use,  however,  Cochins  are  not  to  be 
despised  when  killed  anywhere  under  nine  months  old ;  they 
carry  an  immense  quantity  of  solid  meat ;  and  if  this  be  more 
in  the  leg  than  could  be  desired,  it  must  be  also  remembered 
that  the  said  leg,  though  certainly  not  equal  to  breast  or  wing, 
is  more  tender  than  that  of  most  other  breeds. 

On  the  whole,  however,  if  a  good  stock  can  be  afforded, 


CHOICE   OP  BREEDS.  19 

and  one  or  two  broods  of  chickens  yearly  can  be  managed,  we 
should,  for  domestic  use,  recommend  Dark  Brahmas.  The 
light  variety  is  also  good,  but  the  dark  is  the  larger  fowl,  and 
looks  best  under  confinement.  If  there  be  a  double  run,  as 
described  in  Chapter  I.,  the  finest  birds  may  be  kept  pure,  and 
their  eggs  and  progeny,  when  possible,  sold  at  "  fancy  H  prices  ; 
whilst  the  hens  which  show  faults  of  colour  may  be  kept  in 
the  other  run  with  a  large  coloured  Dorking  or  CrSvecomr 
cock.  From  this  cross  table-fowls  may  be  obtained  which 
"  look  like  young  turkeys,"  and  being  hardy  are  easily  reared. 
The  flesh  may  not  be  quite  equal  to  that  of  the  game  fowl — in 
delicious  flavour  "  the  prince  of  all  breeds  " — but  it  equals  the 
Dorking,  with  greater  size,  and  freedom  from  that  very  delicate 
constitution  which  often  renders  the  latter  an  unprofitable  fowl. 
Dorkings,  notwithstanding,  are  not  to  be  despised,  and  will 
do  well  if  they  have  a  fair-sized  run,  well  gravelled,  and  free 
from  wet,  with  a  good  dry  shed  to  shelter  in.  If  the  supply  of 
table  poultry  be  a  main  point,  no  breed,  except  perhaps 
Houdans,  will  compare  with  this,  the  favourite  fowl  of  the 
London  market.  When  of  good  stock,  they  may  be  got  up  to  an 
amazing  size,  and  the  quality  of  the  meat  is  excellent.  They 
are  also  most  exemplary  mothers,  and  in  moderate  weather 
produce  a  very  fair  quantity  of  eggs ;  but  are  not  very  good 
winter  layers,  even  when  hatched  early.  In  this  respect  they 
are  excelled  by  the  recently-introduced  Houdans,  which  lay  very 
freely,  and  are  also  most  hardy  fowls,  whilst  in  size  and  quality 
of  flesh  they  equal  the  Dorking,  whose  blood,  though  perhaps 
generations  back,  we  believe  them  to  share,  as  evidenced  by  the 
general  form  and  the  peculiar  fifth  toe.  "We  consider  Houdans 
pre-eminently  the  breed  for  the  farmer.  They  will  ultimately 
be  bred  larger  than  even  Dorkings,  which  they  equal  now;  and 
their  extreme  hardiness,  quick  growth,  and  excellent  laying, 
give  us  a  fowl  with  nearly  all  the  excellences  and  but  little  of 
the  faults  of  the  fine  old  English  breed. 

c  2 


20  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

On  the  whole,  therefore,  of  the  pure  breeds,  we  should 
pronounce  Houdans  to  be  the  farmer's,  and  Brahmas  the 
family  fowl,  crossing  the  table-chickens  from  the  latter  with 
Dorking  or  not,  according  as  there  were  one  or  two  runs  to 
keep  them  in.  If  a  few  eggs  daily  be  the  object,  our  own 
choice  would  be  four  or  five  spangled  Hamburghs,  provided 
there  be  a  moderate  run,  or  even  a  good-sized  shed,  and  they 
be  kept  scrupulously  clean  and  well  sheltered  from  driving 
wind  or  rain.  If  the  space  be  very  limited,  and  economy  be  im- 
portant, we  would  select  four  or  five  red-faced  Spanish,  or,  as 
they  are  now  called,  Minorcas  ;  they  lay  at  least  as  well  as 
their  celebrated  white-faced  cousins,  while  they  are  far  hardier 
in  winter,  and  stand  confinement  very  well ;  their  price,  also, 
being  often  very  little  more  than  that  of  common  hens.  In  de- 
fault of  either  of  these,  however,  and  if  all  be  beyond  the  means 
of  the  speculator,  we  would  undertake  to  show  a  satisfactory 
balance-sheet  with  any  good,  lively  ordinary  fowls. 

Let  us,  however,  repeat  again — for  nothing  is  so  im- 
portant— whatever  be  the  breed  selected,  there  must  be  every 
autumn  a  proportion,  at  least,  regularly  replaced  by  young 
birds  hatched  in  the  spring  of  the  same  year.  This  is  the  great 
secret  of  success,  as  far  as  system  is  concerned ;  and  if  it  be 
neglected,  during  winter  an  empty  egg-basket  will  eat  up  all  the 
summer's  profits,  and  testify  dismally  to  the  improvidence  of 
the  owner. 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE  FEEDING  AND   GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  ADULT   FOWLS. 

A  JUDICIOUS  system  of  feeding  is  very  essential  to  the  well- 
being  of  poultry,  and  has,  of  course,  more  direct  influence  upon- 
the  profit  or  loss  than  any  of  the  circumstances — though 
equally  important — which  we  have  hitherto  enumerated.  We- 


POULTRY  USUALLY  OVERFED.  21 

shall,  therefore,  endeavour  to  give  the  subject  a  full,  practical 
•consideration. 

The  object  is  to  give  the  quantity  "and  quality  of  food  which 
will  produce  the  greatest  amount  of  flesh  and  eggs  ;  and  if  it 
be  attained,  the  domestic  fowl  is  unquestionably  the  most  profit- 
able of  all  live  stock.  But  the  problem  is  rather  a  nice  one, 
for  there  is  no  "mistake  on  the  right  side"  here.  A.  fat  hen 
is  not  only  subject  to  many  diseases,  but  ceases  to  lay,  or  nearly 
so,  and  becomes  a  mere  drag  on  the  concern  ;  while  a  pampered 
male  bird  is  lazy  and  useless  at  best,  and  very  probably,  when 
the  proprietor  most  requires  his  services,  may  be  attacked  by 
apoplexy  and  drop  down  dead. 

That  fowls  cannot  be  remunerative  if  starved  need  scarcely 
be  proved.  Ex  ntfiilo  ni/iilJU  ;  and  the  almost  daily  production 
of  an  article  so  rich  in  nitrogen  as  an  egg — the  very  essence  of 
animal  nourishment — muist  demand  an  ample  and  regular  supply 
of  adequate  food.  \Ve  say  no  more  upon  this  point,  knowing 
that  the  common  mistake  of  nearly  all  amateur  poultry-keepers 
is  upon  the  other  side — that  of  over- feeding. 

The  usual  plan,  where  fowls  are  regularly  fed  at  all,  appears 
to  be  to  give  the  birds  at  each  meal  as  much  barley  or  oats  as 
they  will  eat ;  and  this  being  done,  the  owner  prides  himself 
upon  his  liberality,  and  insists  that  his  at  least  are  properly  fed. 
Yet  both  in  quantity  and  quality  is  he  mistaken.  Grain  will 
do  for  the  regular  meals  of  fowls  which  live  on  a  farm,  or  have 
any  other  extensive  range  where  they  can  provide  other  food 
for  themselves,  have  abundant  exercise,  and  their  digestive 
organs  are  kept  in  vigorous  action.  But  poultry  kept  in  con- 
finement on  such  a  diet  will  not  thrive.  Their  plumage,  after 
a  while,  begins  to  fall  off,  their  bowels  become  affected,  and  they 
lose  greatly  in  condition ;  and  though  in  summer  their  eggs  may 
possibly  repay  the  food  expended,  it  will  be  almost  impossible 
to  obtain  any  in  winter,  when  they  are  most  valuable. 

Even  those  who  profess  to  correct  such  errors  are  not  always 


22  GENEBAL  MANAGEMENT   OF  FOWLS. 

safe  guides.  We  have  before  us  a  work  that  stands  high  both 
in  character  and  price,  and  is  in  many  respects  really  valuable, 
in  which,  just  after  a  caution  against  overfeeding,  the  editor 
gives  five  pounds  of  barley  meal,  ten  pounds  of  potatoes,  seven 
pounds  of  oats,  three  pounds  of  rice  boiled,  and  three  pounds  of 
scalded  bran,  as  a  week's  allowance  for  five  hens  and  a  cock — 
"  of  the  larger  kinds  "  it  is  true.  Now,  at  the  lowest  ordinary 
prices  the  cost  of  such  a  scale  would  amount  to,  at  least,  £4  4s. 
in  the  course  of  twelve  months ;  and  taking  eggs  at  the  high 
average  of  a  penny  each  all  the  year  through,  every  one  of  the 
five  hens  must  lay,  at  least,  200  eggs  to  repay  the  mere  cost  of 
their  subsistence.  When  we  say  that  150  eggs  per  annum  is 
as  much  as  can  be  obtained  from  nine  hens  out  of  ten,  it  will 
be  seen  at  once  that  poultry  could  not  be  made  profitable  did 
they  consume  so  enormously;  and,  in  point  of  fact,  we  had  the 
curiosity  to  try  this  dietary  upon  six  fowls  "  of  the  larger 
kinds,"  and  found  it  rather  more  than  double  what  was 
amply  sufficient. 

The  fact  is,  all  fixed  scales  are  delusive.  Not  only  would 
Cochins  or  Crevecoeurs  eat  twice  as  much  as  many  other  sorts ; 
but  different  fowls  of  the  same  breed  often  have  very  different 
measures  of  capacity,  and  even  the  same  hen  will  eat  nearly 
twice  as  much  while  in  active  laying  as  when  her  egg-organs 
are  unproductive. 

The  one  simple  rule  with  adult  fowls  is,  to  give  them  as 
much  as  they  will  eat  eagerly,  and  no  more;  directly  they 
begin  to  feed  with  apparent  indifference,  or  cease  to  run  when 
the  food  is  thrown  at  a  little  distance,  the  supply  should  be 
stopped.  In  a  state  of  nature,  they  have  to  seek  far  and  wide 
for  the  scanty  morsels  which  form  their  subsistence ;  and  the 
Creator  never  intended  that  they,  any  more  than  human 
beings,  should  eat  till  they  can  literally  eat  no  more.  It 
follows,  from  this  rule,  that  food  should  never  be  left  on  the 
ground.  If  such  a  slovenly  practice  be  permitted,  much  of  what 


IMPORTANCE   OF   CORRECT    FEEDING.  23 

is  eaten  will  be  wasted,  and  a  great  deal  will  never  be  eaten  at 
all ;  for  fowls  are  dainty  in  their  way,  and  unless  at  starvation 
point  always  refuse  sour  or  sodden  food. 

The  number  of  meals  per  day  best  consistent  with  real 
economy  will  vary  from  two  to  three,  according  to  the  size  of 
the  run.  If  it  be  of  moderate  extent,  so  that  they  can,  in  any 
degree,  forage  for  themselves,  two  are  quite  sufficient,  at  least 
in  summer,  and  should  be  given  early  in  the  morning,  and  the 
last  thing  before  the  birds  go  to  roost.  In  any  case,  these  will 
be  the  principal  meals ;  but  when  the  fowls  are  kept  in  con- 
finement, they  will  require,  in  addition,  a  scanty  feed  at 
mid-day. 

The  first  feeding  should  consist  of  soft  food  of  some  kind. 
The  birds  have  passed  a  whole  night  since  they  were  last  fed ; 
and  it  is  important,  especially  in  cold  weather,  that  a  fresh 
supply  should  as  soon  as  possible  be  got  into  the  system,  and 
not  merely  into  the  crop.  But  if  grain  be  given,  it  has  to  be 
ground  in  the  poor  bird's  gizzard  before  it  can  be  digested  ;  and 
on  a  cold  winter's  morning  the  delay  is  anything  but  beneficial. 
But  for  the  very  same  reason,  at  the  evening  meal  grain  forms 
the  best  food  which  can  be  supplied  ;  it  is  digested  slowly,  and 
during  the  long  cold  nights  affords  support  and  warmth  to  the 
fowls. 

A  great  deal  depends  upon  this  system  of  feeding,  which 
we  are  aware  is  opposed  to  the  practice  of  many,  who  give 
grain  for  the  breakfast,  and  meal,  if  at  all,  at  night.  We  believe 
such  a  system  to  be  usually  adopted  from  indolence ;  it  is 
easier  to  throw  down  dry  grain  in  a  winter's  morning  than  to 
properly  prepare  a  feed  of  meal,  which  is  accordingly  given  at 
night  instead.  Fowls  so  treated,  however,  are  much  more 
subject  to  roup  and  other  diseases  caused  by  inclement  weather 
than  those  fed  upon  the  system  we  recommend — a  system  not 
only  in  accordance  with  theory  and  our  own  experience,  but 
with  that  of  the  most  successful  breeders.  Let  the  sceptical 


24  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT  OF   FOWLS. 

reader  make  one  simple  experiment.  Give  the  fowls  a  feed  of 
meal,  say  at  five  o'clock  in  the  evening ;  at  twelve  visit  the 
roosts,  and  feel  the  crops  of  the  poor  birds.  All  will  be  empty ; 
the  gizzard  has  nothing  to  act  upon,  and  the  food  speedily 
disappears,  leaving  with  an  empty  stomach,  to  cope  with  the 
long  cold  hours  before  dawn,  the  most  hungry  and  incessant 
feeder  of  all  God's  creatures  ;  but  if  the  last  feed  has  been 
grain,  the  crop  will  still  be  found  partially  full,  and  the  birds 
will  awake  in  the  morning  hearty,  strengthened,  and  refreshed. 

With  respect  to  the  morning  meal  of  pultaceous  food, 
when  only  a  few  fowls  are  kept,  to  supply  eggs  for  a  moderate 
family,  this  may  be  provided  almost  for  nothing  by  boiling 
daily  the  potato  peelings  till  soft,  and  mashing  them  up  with 
enough  bran,  slightly  scalded,  to  make  a  tolerably  stiff  and  dry 
paste.  There  will  be  more  than  sufficient  of  this  if  the  fowls 
kept  do  not  exceed  one  for  each  member  of  the  household  ;  and 
as  the  peelings  cost  nothing,  and  the  bran  very  little,  one  half 
the  food  is  provided  at  a  merely  nominal  expense,  while  no 
better  could  be  given.  A  little  salt  should  always  be  added, 
and  in  winter  a  slight  seasoning  of  pepper  will  tend  to  keep 
the  hens  in  good  health  and  laying.  This  food  may  be  mixed 
boiling  hot  over  night,  and  covered  with  a  cloth,  or  be  put  in 
the  oven  ;  in  either  case  it  will  remain  warm  till  morning — 
the  condition  in  which  it  should  always  be  given  in  cold 
weather. 

If  a  tolerable  stock  of  poultry  be  kept,  such  a  source  of 
supply  will  be  obviously  inadequate ;  and  in  purchasing  the 
food  there  is  much  variety  to  choose  from.  Small  or  "  pig  " 
potatoes  may  be  bought  at  a  low  price  and  similarly  treated  ; 
or  barley-meal  may  be  mixed  with  hot  water ;  or  an  equal 
mixture  of  meal  and  "  sharps,"  or  of  Indian  meal  and  bran  ; 
either  of  these  make  a  capital  food.  Or,  if  offered  on  reasonable 
terms,  a  cart-load  of  swede  or  other  turnips,  or  mangel- wurtzel, 
may  be  purchased ;  and  when  boiled  and  mashed  with  meal  or 


ANALYSIS   OF   VARIOUS   FOODS. 


25 


"  sharps,"  we  believe  forms  the  very  best  soft  food  a  fowl  can 
have,  especially  for  Dorkings ;  but  they  cannot  everywhere  be 
obtained  at  a  cheap  rate,  and  the  buyer  must  study  the  local 
market. 

A  change  of  food,  at  times,  will  be  beneficial,  and  in 
making  it  the  poultry-keeper  should  be  guided  by  the  season. 
When  the  weather  is  warm,  and  the  production  of  eggs 
abundant,  the  food  should  abound  in  nitrogenous  or  flesh- 
forming  material,  and  not  contain  too  much  starch  or  oil,  both 
of  which,  being  carbonaceous,  have  warmth-giving  and  fattening 
properties;  but  when  the  cold  weather  approaches,  and  the 
eggs  even  of  good  winter  layers  are  fewer  than  in  summer,  less 
of  nitrogenous  and  more  of  carbonaceous  food  will  be  needed. 
The  following  table  has  been  often  copied  since  its  first  publica- 
tion in  the  "  Poultry  Diary ;  "  but  its  practical  usefulness  is  so 
obvious  that  we  make  no  apology  for  giving  it  here,  with  some 
modification  to  make  the  proportion  of  warmth-giving  to  flesh- 
forming  ingredients  more  plain. 


Flesh-forming]     "Warmth-giving 
Food.                     Food. 

Bone-making 
Food. 

Husk 

Water 

100  Ibs.  of 

Gluten,  &c. 

Fat  or  Oil.  Starch.&c. 

i 

Mineral 
Substance. 

Fibre. 

Oats 

15 

<; 

47 

2 

20 

10 

Oatmeal   

18 

G 

C3 

2 

2 

9 

Middlings  or  ( 
fine  Sharps  ) 

18 

G 

53 

5 

4 

14 

Wheat  

12 

3 

70 

2 

1 

12 

Barley 

11 

2 

GO 

2 

14 

11 

Indian  Corn... 

11 

8 

85 

1 

5 

10 

Rice  

7 

A  trace. 

80 

A.  trace 

13 

Beans  &  Peas 

25 

2 

48 

•> 

8 

15 

3Iilk  

44 

3 

5 

I 

— 

86* 

To  show  the  practical  use  of  this  table,  it  may  be  observed 
that  whilst  "sharps"  or  "middlings,"  from  its  flesh-forming 
material,  is  one  of  the  best  summer  ingredients,  in  winter  it 
may  be  advantageous  to  change  it  for  a  portion  of  Indian  meal. 


26  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF   FOWLS. 

It  is,  however,  necessary  to  avoid  giving  too  great  a  proportion 
of  maize,  either  as  meal  or  corn,  or  the  effect  will  be  a  useless  and 
prejudicial  fattening  from  the  large  quantity  of  oil  it  contains ; 
it  is  best  mixed  with  barley  or  bean-meal,  and  is  then  a  most 
economical  and  useful  food.  Potatoes,  also,  from  the  large 
proportion  of  starch  contained  in  them,  are  not  good  unmixed 
as  a  regular  diet  for  poultry;  but  mixed  with  bran  or  meal 
will  be  found  most  conducive  to  condition  and  laying. 

In  mixing  soft  food,  there  is  one  general  .rule  always  to  be 
observed  :  it  must  be  mixed  rather  dry,  so  that  it  will  break  if 
thrown  upon  the  ground.  There  should  never  be  enough 
water  to  cause  the  food  to  glisten  in  the  light,  or  to  make  a  sticky 
porridgy  mass,  which  clings  round  the  beaks  of  the  fowls  and 
gives  them  infinite  annoyance,  besides  often  causing  diarrhoea. 

If  the  weather  be  dry,  and  the  birds  are  fed  in  a  hard 
gravelled  yard,  the  food  is  just  as  well,  or  better,  thrown  on  the 
ground.  If  they  are  fed  in  the  shed, 
however,  it  is  best  to  use  an  oblong 
dish  of  zinc,  or,  preferably,  earthenware, 
such  as  represented  in  Fig.  3.  The 
trough  or  dish  must,  however,  be  protected,  or  the  fowls  will 
walk  upon  it,  scratch  earth  into  it,  and  waste  a  large  portion ; 

and  this  is  best  prevented  by  hav- 
ing a  loose  curved  cover  made  of 
tin  and  wire,  as  shown  in  Fig.  4, 
which,  when  placed  on  the  ground 
over  the  dish,  will  effectually  pre- 
vent the  fowls  having  anything  to 
do  with  the  food  except  to  eat  it, 
Flg'  4'  which  they  are  quite  at  liberty  to 

do  through  the  perpendicular  wires,  two  and  a-half  inches 
apart.  Many  experienced  poultry-keepers  prefer  to  drive  the 
wires  into  the  ground,  leaving  them  six  inches  high;  the 
trough  is  tlion  put  behind  them,  and  a  board  laid  over,  leaning 


ANIMAL   FOOD    NECESSABY.  27 

on  the  top  of  the  wires.  The  effect  of  such  a  plan  is  pre- 
cisely similar  as  regards  the  protection  of  the  food,  and  its 
only  disadvantage  is,  that  the  wires  being  always  in  the  ground 
rather  hinder  the  sweeping  of  the  shed.  For  this  reason  we 
contrived  the  above  cover,  and  consider  it  the  best,  as  it  is 
certainly  the  most  convenient  plan. 

If  the  fowls  have  a  field  to  run  in  they  will  require  no 
further  feeding  till  their  evening  meal  of  grain.  Taking  it 
altogether,  no  grain  is  more  useful  or  economical  than  barley, 
and  in  summer  this  may  be  occasionally  changed  with  oats ;  in 
winter,  for  the  reasons  already  given,  Indian  corn  may  be 
given  every  second  or  third  day  with  advantage.  Buckwheat 
is,  chemically,  almost  identical  in  composition  with  barley,  but 
it  certainly  has  a  stimulating  effect  on  the  production  of  eggs, 
and  it  is  a  pity  it  cannot  be  more  frequently  obtained  at  a 
cheap  rate.  We  never  omit  purchasing  a  sack  of  this  grain 
when  we  can,  and  have  a  strong  opinion  that  the  enormous 
production  of  eggs  and  fowls  in  France  is  to  some  extent  con- 
nected with  the  almost  universal  use  of  buckwheat  by  French 
poultry- keepers.  Wheat  is  generally  too  dear  to  be  employed, 
unless  damaged,  and  if  the  damage  be  great  it  had  better  not 
be  meddled  with;  but  if  only  slightly  injured,  or  if  a  good 
sample  be  offered  of  light  "  tail "  wheat,  as  it  is  called,  it  is  a 
most  valuable  food,  both  for  chickens  and  fowls.  "  Sweepings  " 
sometimes  contain  poisonous  substances ;  are  invariably  dearer, 
weight  for  weight,  than  sound  grain ;  and  should  never  be  seen 
in  a  poultry-yard. 

The  mid-day  meal  of  penned-up  fowls  should  be  only  a 
scanty  one,  and  may  consist  either  of  soft  food  or  grain,  as  most 
convenient — meal  preferably  in  cold  weather. 

The  regular  and  substantial  diet  is  now  provided  for,  but 
will  not  alone  keep  the  fowls  in  good  health  and  laying.  They 
are  omnivorous  in  their  natural  state,  and  require  some  portion 
of  animal  food.  On  a  wide  range  they  will  provide  this  for 


28  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS 

themselves,  and  in  such  an  establishment  as  figured  at  page  11, 
the  scraps  of  the  dinner-table  will  be  quite  sufficient ;  but  if  the 
number  kept  be  large,  with  only  limited  accommodation,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  buy  every  week  a  few  pennyworth  of  bullocks' 
liver,  which  may  be  boiled,  chopped  fine,  and  mixed  in  their 
food,  the  broth  being  used  instead  of  water  in  mixing ;  these 
little  tit-bits  will  be  eagerly  picked  out  and  enjoyed.  A  very 
little  is  all  that  is  necessary,  and  need  not  be  given  more  than 
three  times  a  week.  If  fowls  be  much  over-fed  with  this  kind 
•of  food  the  quills  of  the  feathers  become  more  or  less  charged 
with  blood,  which  the  birds  in  time  perceive,  and  almost  in- 
variably peck  at  each  other's  plumage  till  they  leave  the  skin 
quite  bare.  It  is  also  necessary  to  give  a  caution  against  the 
use  of  greaves,  so  much  recommended,  for  obvious  reasons,  by 
the  vendors.  When  fowls  are  habitually  fed  upon  this  article 
their  feathers  speedily  become  disarranged  and  fall  off,  and 
when  killed  the  flavour,  to  any  ordinary  palate,  is  disgusting. 

There  is  yet  another  most  important  article  of  diet,  without 
which  it  is  absolutely  impossible  to  keep  fowls  in  health.  We 
a'efer  to  an  ample  and  daily  supply  of  green  or  fresh  vegetable 
:ibod.  It  is  not  perhaps  too  much  to  say,  that  the  omission  of 
this  is  the  proximate  cause  of  nearly  half  the  deaths  where 
fowls  are  kept  in  confinement ;  whilst  with  it,  our  other  direc- 
tions having  been  observed,  they  may  be  kept  in  health  for  a 
long  time  in  a  pen  only  a  few  feet  square.  It  was  to  provide  this 
that  we  recommended  the  open  yards,  in  page  11,  to  be  laid 
down  in  grass — the  very  best  green  food  for  poultry ;  and  a 
run  of  even  an  hour  daily  on  such  a  grass  plot,  supposing  the 
shed  to  be  dry  and  clean,  will  keep  them  in  vigorous  health, 
and  not  be  more  than  the  grass  will  bear.  But  if  a  shed  only 
be  available,  fresh  vegetables  must  be  thrown  in  daily.  Any- 
thing will  do.  A  good  plan  is  to  mince  up  cabbage-leaves  or 
other  refuse  vegetables,  and  mix  pretty  freely  with  the  soft 
food  j  or  the  whole  leaves  may  be  thrown  down  for  the  fowls 


FRESH   WATER.  * 

to  devour;  or  a  few  turnips  may  be  minced  up  daily,  and 
scattered  like  grain,  or  simply  cut  in  two  and  thrown  into  the 
run  ;  or  if  it  can  be  got,  a  large  sod  of  fresh-cut  turf  thrown 
to  the  fowls  will  be  better  than  all.  But  something  they  must 
have  every  day,  or  nearly  so,  otherwise  their  bowels  sooner  or 
later  become  disordered,  their  feathers  look  dirty,  and  their 
combs  lose  that  beautiful  bright  red  colour  which  will  always 
accompany  really  good  health  and  condition,  and  testifies 
pleasantly  to  abundance  of  eggs. 

The  water  vessel  must  be  filled  fresh  every  day  at  least,  and 
so  arranged  that  the  birds  cannot  scratch  dirt  into  it,  or  make 
it  foul.  The  ordinary  poultry-fountain  is  too  well  known  to 
need  description,  but  a  rather  better  form  than  is  usually  made 
is  shown  in  Fig.  5.  The  advantages  of 
such  a  construction  are  two  :  the  top 
being  open,  and  fitted  with  a  cork,  the 
state  of  the  interior  can  be  examined, 
and  the  vessel  well  sluiced  through  to 
remove  the  green  slime  which  always 
collects  by  degrees,  and  is  very  preju- 
dicial to  health ;  and  the  trough  being 
slightly  raised  from  the  ground,  instead 
of  upon  it,  the  water  is  less  easily  fouled. 
But  either  form,  if  placed  with  the 

trough  towards  the  wall,  at  a  few  inches  distance  from  it,  will- 
keep  the  water  clean  very  well.  Some  experienced  breeders 
prefer  shallow  pans ;  but  if  these  be  adopted  they  must  be 
either  put  behind  rails,  with  a  board  over,  or  protected  by 
a  cover,  in  the  same  way  as  the  feeding  troughs  already 
described. 

Fowls  must  never  be  left  without  water.  During  a  frost, 
therefore,  the  fountain  should  be  emptied  every  night,  or  there 
will  be  trouble  next  morning.  Care  must  always  be  taken  also 
that  snow  is  not  allowed  to  fall  into  the  drinking  vessel.  The 


"  Douglas*  mixture,"  respecting  which,  we  can  speak  with  un- 
qualified approval,  as  a  most  valuable  addition  to  the  drink  in 
cold  weather  of  both  fowls  and  chickens.  It  consists  of  half  a 
pound  of  sulphate  of  iron  and  one  ounce  of  sulphuric  acid  dis- 
solved in  two  gallons  of  water ;  and  is  to  be  added  in  the 
proportion  of  a  tea-spoonful  to  each  pint  of  water  in  the 
fountain. 

Whilst  the  fowls  are  moulting,  the  above  mixture,  or  a 
little  sulphate  of  iron,  should  always  be  used ;  it  will  assist 
them  greatly  through  this,  the  most  critical  period  of  the 
whole  year.  A  little  hemp-seed  should  also  be  given  every 
day  at  this  season,  at  least  to  all  fowls  of  value ;  and  with 
these  aids,  and  a  little  pepper  on  their  food,  with  perhaps  a 
little  extra  meat,  or  even  a  little  ale  during  the  few  weeks  the 
process  lasts,  there  will  rarely  be  any  lost.  With  hardy  kinds 
and  good  shelter  such  precautions  are  scarcely  necessary,  but 
they  cost  little,  and  have  their  effect  also  on  the  early  re- 
commencement of  laying. 

In  addition  to  their  regular  food  it  will  be  needful  that  the 
fowls  have  a  supply  of  lime,  in  some  shape  or  other,  to  form 
the  shells  of  their  eggs.  Old  mortar  pounded  is  excellent ;  so 
are  oyster-shells  well  burnt  in  the  fire  and  pulverised  j  of  the 
latter  they  are  very  fond,  and  it  is  an  excellent  plan  to  keep 

*  So  called  because  published  in  the  Field  newspaper  by  Mr.  John 
Douglas,  then  superintending  the  Wolseley  Aviaries. 


VALUE  OP  POULTRY  MANURE.  31 

a  "tree-saucer"  full  of  it  in  their  yard.  If  this  matter  has 
been  neglected,  and  soft  shell-less  eggs  have  resulted,  the 
quickest  way  of  getting  matters  right  again  is  to  add  a  little 
lime  to  the  drinking  water. 

We  shall  conclude  this  chapter  with  a  few  further  remarks 
respecting  general  management. 

With  regard  to  the  nests,  they  may  be  of  any  form,  but  are 
best  upon  the  ground.  A  long  box  may  be  employed,  divided 
by  partitions  into  separate  compartments ;  or  separate  laying- 
boxes  may  be  used,  which  is  preferable,  as  more  easily  cleaned. 
Many  like  baskets,  made  flat  on  one  side,  and  hung  to  a  nail  in 
the  wall;  these  should  be  of  wire,  and  then  cannot  harbour 
vermin — the  great  plague  of  fowls.  The  straw  should  be  broken 
.and  beaten  till  it  is  quite  soft,  and  changed  as  often  as  there  is 
any  foul  or  musty  smell.  If  the  nests  are  offensive  the  hens 
will  often  drop  their  eggs,  quite  perfect,  upon  the  ground 
rather  than  resort  to  them. 

Cleanliness  in  the  house  and  run  has  already  been  insisted 
upon,  and  is  only  again  alluded  to  on  account  of  the  value  of 
the  manure.  This,  collected  daily,  should  be  put  in  any  con- 
venient receptacle  where  it  can  be  kept  dry,  and  either  used  in 
the  garden,  if  there  is  one,  or  sold.  It  pays  best  to  use  it 
where  possible ;  it  should  always  be  mixed  with  earth,  being 
very  strong,  and  is  especially  valuable  for  all  plants  of  the 
cabbage  kind ;  it  is  also  excellent  for  growing  strawberries,  or 
indeed  almost  anything  if  sufficiently  diluted.  If  there  be  no 
possibility  of  so  using  it,  it  is  worth  at  least  seven  shillings 
per  cwt.  to  sell,  and  is  greatly  valued  by  all  nurserymen  and 
gardeners  who  know  its  value ;  but  there  is  sometimes  difficulty 
in  finding  those  who  do,  and  getting  a  fair  price.  The  lowest 
price  we  ever  knew  offered,  however,  was  three  shillings  per 
cwt.  At  seven  shillings  (which  we  believe  to  be  about  a  fair 
value,  compared  with  that  of  guano,  on  account  of  the  moisture 
contained)  we  consider  the  value  of  the  manure  equal  to  fully 


32  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

one-fifth — perhaps  one-fourth  would  be  nearer  the  mark — of 
the  total  profit  from  the  fowls.  It  is,  therefore,  an  item  too 
important  to  be  neglected. 

Where  a  considerable  number  of  fowls  are  killed  annually 
the  feathers  also  become  of  value,  and  should  be  preserved. 
They  are  very  easily  dressed  at  home.  Strip  the  plumage  from, 
the  quills  of  the  larger  feathers,  and  mix  with  the  small 
ones,  putting  the  whole  loosely  in  paper  bags,  which  should  be 
hung  up  in  the  kitchen,  or  some  other  warm  place,  for  a  few 
days  to  dry.  Then  let  the  bags  be  baked  three  or  four  times, 
for  half  an  hour  each  time,  in  a  cool  oven,  drying  for  two  days 
between  each  baking,  and  the  process  will  be  completed.  Less 
trouble  than  this  will  do,  and  is  often  made  to  suffice  ;  but  the 
feathers  are  inferior  in  crispness  to  those  so  treated,  and  may 
occasionally  become  offensive. 

Eggs  should  be  collected  regularly,  if  possible  twice  everj 
day  j  and  if  any  chickens  are  to  be  reared  from  the  home  stock, 
the  owner  or  attendant  should  learn  to  recognise  the  egg  of 
each  particular  hen.  There  is  no  difficulty  in  this,  even  with  a 
considerable  number — nearly  every  egg,  to  the  accustomed  eye, 
has  a  well-marked  individual  character ;  and  if  there  be  any 
hens  of  value,  it  may  save  much  disappointment  in  the  character 
of  the  brood  to  know  the  parentage  of  those  selected  for 
hatching. 

Before  concluding,  it  may  be  expected  that  something 
definite  should  be  said  respecting  the  actual  profit  of  what  may 
be  called  domestic  poultry-keeping.  It  is  extremely  difficult 
to  make  any  such  statement,  so  much  depends  upon  the  price 
of  food,  upon  the  management,  selection  of  stock,  and  value  of 
eggs.  But  in  general  we  have  found  the  average  cost  of  fowls, 
when  properly  fed,  to  be  about  Id.  per  week  each  for  ordinary 
sorts,  and  not  exceeding  IJd.  per  week  for  the  larger  breeds ; 
when  the  cost  is  more  we  should  suspect  waste.  A  good 
ordinary  hen  ought  to  lay  120  eggs  in  a  vear.  and  if  good  laying 


IMIOUTANCE    OF    SYSTEM.  33 

breeds  are  selected,  such  as  we  have,  named  in  Chapter  II., 
there  ought  to  be  an  average  of  fully  150,  not  reckoning  the 
cock,  whilst  Game  or  Hamburghs  will  exceed  200  per  annum. 
Of  course,  good  management  is  supposed,  and  a  regular  renewal 
of  young  stock,  as  already  insisted  upon.  For  domestic  purposes 
eggs  ought  to  be  valued  at  the  price  of  new-laid,  and  from  these 
data  each  can  make  his  own  calculation.  The  value  of  tho 
manure,  when  it  can  be  sold  or  used,  we  consider  is  about  9d. 
to  Is.  per  annum  for  each  fowl. 

Finally,  let  the  whole  undertaking — large  or  small — be  con- 
ducted as  a  real  matter  of  business.  If  more  than  three  or 
four  hens  are  kept,  buy  the  food  wholesale,  and  in  the  best 
market ;  let  the  grain  be  purchased  a  sack  at  a  time — potatoes 
by  the  cart-load  or  hundred- weight,  and  so  on.  Let  a  fair  and 
strict  account  be  kept  of  the  whole  concern.  The  scraps  of  the 
house  may  be  thrown  in,  and  the  cost  of  the  original  stock,  and 
of  their  habitations,  may  be  kept  separate,  and  reckoned  as 
capital  invested  ;  but  let  everything  afterwards  for  which  cash 
is  paid  be  rigorously  set  down,  and  on  the  other  side,  with 
equal  strictness,  let  every  egg  or  chicken  eaten  or  sold  be  also 
valued  and  recorded.  This  is  of  great  importance.  The  young 
beginner  may,  perhaps,  manage  his  laying-stock  well,  but  suc- 
ceed badly  with  his  chickens  (though  not,  we  hope,  if  he  be  a 
reader  of  this  book),  or  vice  versa  ;  and  it  is  no  small  matter  in 
poultry-keeping,  as  in  any  other  mercantile  concern,  to  be  able 
to  see  from  recorded  facts  ivhere  has  been  the  profit  or  where 
the  loss.  The  discovery  will  lead  to  reflection  ;  and  the  waste, 
neglect,  or  other  defective  management  being  amended,  the 
hitherto  faulty  department  will  also  contribute  its  quota  to  the 
general  weal. 


34  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF   FOWLS. 

CHAPTER    IV. 

INCUBATION. 

MUCH  disappointment  in  the  hatching  and  rearing  of  young 
broods  would  be  prevented  were  more  care  taken  that  the  eggs 
selected  for  setting  were  of  good  quality — not  only  likely  to  be 
fertile,  but  the  produce  of  strong  and  hardy  birds.  This  re- 
mark applies  to  common  barn-door  poultry  quite  as  much  as  to 
the  pure  breeds.  A  friend  recently  complained  to  us,  that  out 
of  a  dozen  eggs  only  four  or  five  had  hatched  ;  and  on  inquiry, 
we  found  that  the  sitting  had  been  procured  from  an  inn-yard, 
where,  to  our  own  knowledge,  only  one  cock  was  running  with 
about  twenty  hens,  from  which  of  course  no  better  result  could 
be  expected.  When  the  eggs  have  to  be  procured  from  else- 
where, therefore,  whatever  be  the  class  of  fowls  required,  it 
should  first  of  all  be  ascertained  that  there  is  at  least  one  cock 
to  every  six  or  eight  hens,  and  that  he  be  a  strong  and  lively 
bird ;  and  next,  that  the  fowls  be  not  only  of  the  kind  desired, 
but  that  they  are  well  fed  and  taken  care  of.  From  scraggy, 
half-starved  birds  it  is  impossible  to  rear  a  large  brood,  as  the 
greater  number  even  of  those  hatched  will  die  in  infancy.  It 
only  remains  to  ensure  that  the  eggs  be  fresh,  and  a  successful 
batching  may  be  anticipated. 

With  regard  to  this  latter  point,  eggs  have  been  known  to 
hatch  when  two  months  old,  or  even  more;  but  we  would 
never  ourselves  set,  from  choice,  any  egg  which  had  been  laid 
more  than  a  fortnight ;  and  after  a  month,  or  less,  it  is  useless 
trouble.  Fresh  eggs,  if  all  be  well,  hatch  out  in  good  time,  and 
the  chicks  are  strong  and  lively ;  the  stale  ones  always  hatch 
last,  being  perhaps  as  much  as  two  days  later  than  new-laid,  and 
the  chickens  are  often  too  weak  to  break  the  shell.  We  have 
also  invariably  noticed,  when  compelled  to  take  a  portion  of 
stale  eggs  to  make  up  a  sitting,  that  even  when  such  eggs  have 


SELECTION   OF  EGGS.  35 

hatched,  the  subsequent  deaths  have  principally  occurred  in 
this  portion  of  the  brood ;  but  that  if  none  of  the  eggs  were 
more  than  four  or  five  days  old,  they  not  only  hatched  nearly 
every  one,  and  within  an  hour  or  two  of  each  other,  but  the 
losses  in  any  ordinary  season  were  very  few. 

When  the  eggs  are  from  the  home  stock,  their  quality 
should,  of  course,  be  above  suspicion.  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  say,  that  in  order  to  ensure  this,  every  egg  before  storing 
should  have  legibly  written  upon  it  in  pencil  the  date  on  which 
it  was  laid.  Eggs  intended  for  setting  are  best  kept  in  bran, 
the  small  end  downward,  and  should  never  be  exposed  to 
concussion.  Another  very  good  plan  is  to  have  a  large  board 
pierced  with  a  number  of  round  holes  in  regular  rows  to  receive 
the  eggs. 

Hundreds  of  years  ago  it  was  thought  that  the  sex  of 
eggs  could  be  distinguished  by  the  shape — the  cocks  being  pro- 
duced from  those  of  elongated  shape,  and  hens  from  the  short 
or  round.  Others  have  pretended  to  discern  the  future  sex 
from  the  position  of  the  air-bubble  at  the  large  end.  We  need 
scarcely  say,  that  these  and  every  other  nostrum  have,  hundreds 
of  times,  been  proved  to  be  erroneous.  There  is  not  a  breeder 
of  prize  poultry  in  England  who  would  not  gladly  give  twenty 
pounds  for  the  coveted  knowledge,  and  thenceforth  breed  no 
more  cockerels  than  he  really  wanted  ;  but  the  secret  has  never 
been  discovered  yet,  and  it  is  even  impossible  to  tell  before  the 
egg  has  been  sat  upon  a  short  time  whether  it  has  been 
fecundated. 

We  have,  in  a  previous  chapter,  already  mentioned  that  the 
sitting  hens  ought  to  have  a  separate  shed  and  run  provided  for 
them,  in  order  that  the  other  hens  may  not  occupy  their  nests 
during  absence,  or  they  themselves  go  back  to  the  wrong  ones, 
as  they  will  often  do  if  allowed  to  sit  in  the  fowl-house.  Even 
in  a  very  small  domestic  establishment  we  strongly  recommend 
that  the  small  additional  space  requisite  be  devoted  to  this 

D  2 


36  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

purpose,  for  all  our  experience  has  proved  that,  whatever  suc- 
cess may  be  obtained  otherwise  by  constant  care  and  watchful- 
ness, it  is  never  so  great  as  when  the  sitter  can  be  shut  into  a 
separate  run,  and  be  entirely  unmolested.  An  extensive  run  is 
neither  necessary  nor  desirable,  as  it  only  entices  the  birds  to 
wander,  whereas,  in  a  limited  space,  they  will  go  back  to  their 
nests  as  soon  as  their  wants  are  satisfied.  A  shed  five  feet 
square,  with  a  run  the  same  width  for  ten  feet  out  in  front,  is 
quite  sufficient  for  three  hens. 

If  the  hen  must  be  set  on  the  ordinary  nest  in  the  fowl- 
house,  unless  she  can  be  watched  every  day  to  see  that  all  goes 
right,  it  is  best  to  take  her  off  at  a  regular  time  every  morning, 
and  after  seeing  to  her  wants  and  due  return,  to  shut  her  in  so 
that  she  cannot  be  annoyed.  She  should  be  lifted  by  taking 
hold  under  the  wings,  gently  raising  them  first  to  see  that  no 
eggs  are  enclosed.  Very  fair  success  may  be  attained  by  this 
method  of  management,  which  is  obviously  almost  imperative 
in  very  large  establishments,  where  numerous  hens  must  be 
sitting  at  one  time ;  but  where  such  large  numbers  do  net 
allow  of  a  special  poultry  attendant  it  is  rather  troublesome, 
and  on  an  average  there  will  be  a  chicken  or  two  less  than  if 
the  hens  can  be  put  quite  apart,  where  they  need  neither  be 
watched  nor  interfered  with.  Since  we  adopted  this  plan  we 
have,  from  good  eggs,  always  hatched  at  least  nine  out  of 
twelve,  and  generally  more;  and  have  had  no  trouble  nor 
anxiety  till  the  broods  were  actually  hatched,  which  is  any- 
thing but  the  case  on  the  other  system. 

"With  respect  to  the  arrangement  of  the  hatching  run,  it 
should,  if  possible,  be  in  sight  of  the  other  fowls,  as  it  will  keep 
the  sitter  from  becoming  strange  to  her  companions,  and  pre- 
vent an  otherwise  inevitable  fight  on  her  restoration,  to  the 
possible  damage  of  the  brood.  We  prefer  ourselves,  as  stated 
in  the  first  chapter,  a  shed  five  feet  wide  and  five  deep,  open  in 
front  to  a  small  gravel  or  grass  run.  Under  the  shed  must  be,  v 


CHOICE   OF   THE   HEN.  37 

besides  the  nests,  a  good-sized  shallow  box  of  sand,  dry  earth 
or  fine  coal  ashes,  for  the  hen  to  cleanse  herself  in,  which  she 
specially  needs  at  this  time;  and  food  and  water  must  be 
always  ready  for  her.  With  these  precautions  the  hen  may 
and  should  in  nearly  every  case,  with  the  exceptions  presently 
mentioned,  be  left  entirely  to  herself.  There  are,  however, 
some  birds  which,  if  not  removed,  would  starve  upon  theii 
nests  sooner  than  leave  them;  and  therefore  if  the  hen  has 
not  been  off  for  two  or  three  days  (we  would  test  her  for  that 
time  first),  we  should  certainly  remove  the  poor  thing  for  her 
own  preservation.  To  feed  upon  the  nest  is  a  cruel  practice, 
which  has  crippled  many  a  fowl  for  life,  and  cannot  be  too 
strongly  condemned. 

Of  all  mothers  we  prefer  Cochins  or  Brahmas.  Their 
abundant  "fluff"  and  feathering  is  of  inestimable  advantage 
to  the  young  chicks,  and  their  tame  and  gentle  disposition 
makes  them  submit  to  any  amount  of  handling  or  manage- 
ment with  great  docility.  Cochins  certainly  appear  clumsy 
with  their  feet,  but  we  have  never  found  more  chickens 
actually  trodden  upon  by  them  than  with  any  other  breed. 
3Iany  complain  that  they  leave  their  chickens  too  soon,  but 
we  have  not  found  it  so  ourselves.  If  they  are  kept  cooped 
instead  of  being  set  at  liberty  they  will  brood  their  chickens 
for  at  least  two  months,  even  till  they  have  laid  a  second  batch 
of  eggs  and  desire  to  sit  again  ;  and  by  that  time  any  brood  is 
able  to  do  without  a  mother's  care.  With  regard  to  Brahmas 
as  mothers,  they  have  a  peculiarity  we  never  observed  in  any 
other  fowl,  and  have  never  seen  noticed  in  any  work  on  poultry 
— they  actually  appear  to  look  behind  tJieni  when  moving,  lest 
they  should  tread  upon  their  little  ones.  Dorkings,  also,  are 
exemplary  mothers,  and  go  with  their  chickens  a  long  time, 
which  recommends  them  strongly  for  very  early  broods.  And 
lastly,  a  Game  hen  has  qualities  which  often  make  her  most 
valuable.  She  is  not  only  exemplary  in  her  care,  and  a  super- 


38  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

excellent  forager  for  her  young  brood,  but  will  defend  them  to 
the  last  gasp,  and  render  a  good  account  of  the  most  deter- 
mined cat  that  ever  existed;  indeed,  we  would  almost  defy  any 
single  creature  whatever,  quadruped 'or  otherwise,  to  steal  a 
chick  in  daylight  from  a  well-bred  Game  hen.  But  whatever 
be  the  hen  chosen,  she  should  be  well  feathered,  moderately 
short-legged,  and  tolerably  tame.  Very  high  authority*  has 
affirmed  that  only  mature  hens  should  be  allowed  to  sit,  and 
that  pullets  are  not  to  be  trusted ;  but  our  own  experience  and 
that  of  very  many  large  breeders  does  not  confirm  this.  We 
have  constantly  set  pullets,  and  never  had  any  more  reason  to 
complain  of  them  than  of  older  birds. 

The  nests  may  be  arranged  under  the  shed  any  way  so  that 
no  one  can  see  into  them,  with  the  one  proviso  that  they  be 
actually  upon  the  ground.  Chicks  thus  obtained  always  show 
more  constitution  than  those  hatched  on  a  wooden  bottom  at  a 
higher  level.  This  holds  good  even  at  all  times  of  the  year. 
We  are  aware  that  eminent  authorities  who  recommend  ground- 
nests  in  summer,  prefer  a  warm,  wooden  box  in  winter  for 
the  sake  of  the  hen ;  but  she  will  rarely 
suffer.  The  heat  of  her  body  whilst  sit- 
ting is  so  great  that  a  cool  situation  seems 
grateful  to  her — at  least,  a  hen  set  on  the 
ground  rarely  forsakes  her  nest,  which  is 
otherwise  no  uncommon  case.  We  knew 
of  a  hen  which,  during  the  month  of 
January,  made  her  nest  upon  the  top  of 
a  rock  in  one  of  the  highest  and  most 
exposed  situations  in  the  Peak  of  Derbyshire,  and  brought  a 
large  brood  of  strong  chickens  into  the  yard.  It  is  only  neces- 
sary the  birds  should  be  protected  from  wind  and  rain,  in  order 
to  avoid  rheumatism ;  and  this  is  most  effectually  done  by 
employing  for  the  nest  a  tight  wooden  box,  like  Fig.  6,  open  at 

*  Mrs.  Fergusson  Blair. 


IMPORTANCE   OF   MOISTURE.  39 

the  bottom,  and  also  in  front,  with  the  exception  of  a  strip 
three  inches  high  to  contain  the  straw.  Let  one  of  these 
boxes  be  placed  in  the  back  corner  of  the  shed,  touching  the 
side,  the  front  being  turned  to  the  back  wall,  and  about  nine 
inches  from  it;  and  the  hen  will  be  in  the  strictest  privacy, 
will  be  both  perfectly  sheltered  and  kept  cool,  and  will  never 
mistake  her  own  nest  for  the  one  which  may  be  placed 
in  the  other  corner.  If  a  third  must  be  made  room  for,  let 
her  nest  be  placed  the  same  distance  from  the  wall  midway 
between  the  others,  and  like  them,  with  the  front  of  the  nest 
to  the  back  of  the  shed.  There  will  then  be  still  nearly  a  foot 
between  each  two  nests  for  the  birds  to  pass. 

A  damp  situation  is  best  for  the  sitting  shed,  and  will 
ensure  good  hatching  in  hot  weather,  when  perhaps  all  the 
neighbours  are  complaining  that  their  chicks  are  dead  in  the 
shells.  Attempting  to  keep  the  nest  and  eggs  dry  has  ruined 
many  a  brood.  It  is  not  so  in  nature ;  every  morning  the  hen 
leaves  her  nest,  and  has  to  seek  her  precarious  meal  through 
the  long,  wet  grass,  which  drenches  her  as  if  she  had  been 
ducked  in  a  pond.  "With  this  saturated  breast  she  returns,  and 
the  eggs  are  duly  moistened.  But  if  the  nest  be  dry,  the  hen 
be  kept  dry,  and  the  weather  happen  to  be  hot  and  dry  also,  the 
moisture  within  the  egg  itself  becomes  dried  to  the  consistency 
of  glue,  and  the  poor  little  chick,  being  unable  to  move  round 
within  the  shell,  cannot  fracture  it,  and  perishes.  Such  a  mis- 
hap will  not  happen  if  the  ground  under  the  nest  be  damp  and 
cooL  All  that  is  necessary  in  such  a  case  is  to  scrape  a  slight 
hollow  in  the  bare  earth,  place  the  nest-box,  already  described, 
over  it,  and  put  in  a  moderate  quantity  of  straw  cut  into  two- 
inch  lengths  ;  or,  still  better,  some  fresh- cut  damp  grass  may  be 
put  in  first,  and  the  straw  over.  Shape  the  straw  also  into  a 
very  sligJit  hollow,  and  the  nest  is  made  •  but  care  must  be 
taken  to  well  fill  up  the  corners  of  the  box,  or  the  eggs  may  be 
rolled  into  them  and  get  addled.  Some  prefer  to  put  in  first  a 


40  GENEKAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

fresh  turf ;  but  if  the  nest  be  on  the  bare  ground,  as  we  recom- 
mend, this  is  useless.  In  any  case,  the  straw  should  be  cut  into 
short  lengths  for  a  hatching  nest,  and  the  neglect  of  this  pre- 
caution is  the  most  frequent  cause  of  breakage ;  the  hen,  during 
lier  twenty-four  hours'  stay,  gets  her  claws  entangled  in  the 
long  straws,  and  on  leaving  for  her  daily  meal  is  very  likely  to 
drag  one  or  two  with  her,  fracturing  one  or  more  eggs,  or  even 
jerking  them  quite  out  of  the  nest. 

Should  such  a  mishap  occur  (and  the  nest  should  be 
examined  every  two  or  three  days,  when  the  hen  is  absent, 
to  ascertain),  the  eggs  musT  be  removed,  and  clean  straw 
substituted,  and  every  sound  egg  at  all  soiled  by  the  broken 
one  be  washed  with  a  sponge  and  warm  water,  gently  but 
quickly  drying  after  with  a  cloth.  The  hen,  if  very  dirty, 
should  also  have  her  breast  cleansed,  and  the  whole  replaced 
immediately,  that  the  eggs  may  not  be  chilled.  A  moderate 
hatch  may  still  be  expected,  though  the  number  of  chicks  is 
always  more  or  less  reduced  by  an  accident  of  this  kind.  If,, 
however,  the  cleansing  be  neglected  for  more  than  a  couple  of 
days  after  a  breakage,  or  less  at  the  latter  period  of  incubation, 
probably  not  a  single  chick  will  be  obtained ;  whether  from  the 
pores  of  the  shell  being  stopped  by  the  viscid  matter,  or  from 
the  noxious  smell  of  the  putrefying  egg,  it  is  not  very  material 
to  inquire. 

Every  egg  should  also  be  marked  quite  round  with  ink  or 
pencil,  so  that  if  any  be  subsequently  laid  in  the  nest  they 
may  be  at  once  detected  and  removed.  Hens  will  sometimes 
lay  several  eggs  after  beginning  to  sit. 

In  ordinary  winters  the  hen  should  be  set  as  in  summer, 
giving  her,  however,  rather  more  straw.  Only  in  severe  frost 
should  she  be  brought  into  the  house ;  and  in  that  case,  or  in, 
summer  if  the  ground  be  very  dry,  it  will  be  necessary  during 
the  last  half  of  the  hatching  period  to  sprinkle  the  eggs  slightly 
•with  water  every  day  while  she  is  off.  This  is  done  best  by 


TESTING   THE   EGGS. 


41 


dipping  a  small  brush  in  tepid  water  ;  and  is  always  necessary 
to  success,  in  dry  weather  at  least,  when  a  hen  is  set  in  a  box 
at  a  distance  from  the  ground,  as  is  the  case  in  large  sitting 
houses.  But,  where  it  can  be  had,  we  much  prefer  the  natural 
moisture  of  a  damp  soil :  it  never  fails,  and  avoids  going  near 
the  hen. 

"When  the  number  of  eggs  set  yearly  is  considerable,  it  is 
worth  while  to  withdraw  the  unfertile  ones  at  an  early  period. 
About  the  eighth  day  let  the  hen  be  removed  by  candle- 
light, and  each  egg 
be  held  between  the 
eye  and  the  light, 
in  the  manner  repre- 
sented by  Fig.  7.  If 
the  egg  be  fertile,  it 
will  appear  opaque, 
or  dark  all  over,  ex- 
cept, perhaps,  a  small 
portion  towards  the 
top ;  but  if  it  be  un- 
impregnated,  it  will 
be  still  translucent, 
the  light  passing 
through  it  almost  as 
if  new  laid.  After 
some  experience  the 
eggs  can  be  distin- 
guished at  an  earlier  period,  and  a  practised  hand  can  tell  the 
unfertile  eggs  even  at  the  fourth  day.  Should  the  number 
withdrawn  be  considerable,  four  batches  set  the  same  day  may 
be  given  to  three  hens,  or  even  two,  and  the  remainder  given 
fresh  eggs ;  and  if  not,  the  fertile  eggs  will  get  more  heat,  and 
the  brood  come  out  all  the  stronger.  The  sterile  eggs  are  also 
worth  saving,  as  they  are  quite  good  enough  for  cooking 


42  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

purposes,  and  quite  as  fresh  even  for  boiling  as  nine-tenths 
of  the  Irish  eggs  constantly  used  for  that  purpose.  We  do  not, 
however,  recommend  this  plan  when  the  sitters  are  few  and 
the  eggs  from  the  home  stock,  as  in  that  case  their  quality 
should  be  known,  and  sterility  very  rare. 

It  is  a  common  mistake  to  set  too  many  eggs.  In  summer, 
a  large  hen  may  have  thirteen,  or  a  Cochin  fifteen  of  her  own ; 
but  in  early  spring  eleven  are  quite  enough.  We  have  not  only 
to  consider  how  many  chickens  the  hen  can  hatch,  but  how 
many  she  can  cover  when  they  are  partly  grown.  If  a  hen  be 
set  in  January,  she  should  not  have  more  than  seven  or  eight 
eggs,  or  the  poor  little  things,  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  get  large, 
will  have  no  shelter,  and  soon  die  off.  It  is  far  better  to  hatch 
only  six  and  rear  five,  or  may  be  all,  to  health  and  vigour,  than 
to  hatch  ten  and  only  probably  rear  three  puny  little  creatures, 
good  for  nothing  but  to  make  broth.  In  April  and  May 
broods,  such  a  limitation  is  not  needed ;  but  even  then  eleven 
or  twelve  chickens  are  quite  as  many  as  a  large,  well-feathered 
hen  can  properly  nourish,  and  the  eggs  should  only  be  one  or 
two  in  excess  of  that  number. 

A  good  hen  will  not  remain  more  than  half  an  hour  away 
from  her  nest,  unless  she  has  been  deprived  of  a  dust-bath,  and 
so  become  infested  with  lice,  which  sometimes  causes  hens  thus 
neglected  to  forsake  their  eggs  altogether.  When  a  hen  at  the 
proper  time  shows  no  disposition  to  return,  she  should  be 
quietly  driven  towards  her  nest ;  if  she  be  caught,  and  replaced 
by  hand,  she  is  often  so  frightened  and  excited  as  to  break  the 
•eggs.  A  longer  absence  is  not,  however,  necessarily  fatal  to 
the  brood.  We  have  had  hens  repeatedly  absent  more  than  an 
hour,  which  still  hatched  seven  or  eight  chicks ;  and  on  one 
occasion  a  hen  sitting  in  the  fowl-house  returned  to  the  wrong 
nest,  and  was  absent  from  her  own  more  than  five  hours.  We 
of  course  considered  all  chances  of  hatching  at  an  end ;  but  as 
the  hen  had  been  sitting  a  fortnight,  concluded  to  let  her  finish. 


ASSISTING  THE  CHICKENS.  43 

her  time,  and  she  hatched  five  chickens.  We  have  heard  of  a 
few  hatching  even  after  nine  hours'  absence,  and  therefore  would 
never,  on  account  of  such  an  occurrence,  abandon  valuable  eggs 
without  a  trial. 

The  chickens  break  the  shell  at  the  end  of  the  twenty-first 
day,  on  an  average  ;  but  if  the  eggs  are  new-laid,  it  will  often 
lessen  the  time  by  as  much  as  five  or  six  hours,  while  stale  eggs 
are  always  more  or  less  behind. 

We  never  ourselves  now  attempt  to  assist  a  chick  from  the 
shell  If  the  eggs  were  fresh,  and  proper  care  has  been  taken 
to  preserve  moisture  during  incubation,  no  assistance  is  ever 
needed.  To  fuss  about  the  nest  frets  the  hen  exceedingly  j  and 
we  have  always  found  that  even  where  the  poor  little  creature 
survived  at  the  time,  it  never  lived  to  maturity.  Should  the 
reader  attempt  such  assistance,  in  cases  where  an  egg  has  been 
long  "  chipped,"  and  no  further  progress  made,  let  the  shell  be 
cracked  gently  all  round,  without  tearing  the  inside  membrane ; 
if  tJtat  be  perforated,  the  viscid  fluid  inside  dries,  and  glues  the 
chick  to  the  shell.  Should  this  happen,  or  should  both  shell 
and  membrane  be  perforated  at  first,  introduce  the  point  of  a 
pair  of  scissors,  and  cut  up  the  egg  towards  the  large  end, 
where  there  will  be  an  empty  space,  remembering  that  if  blood 
flow  all  hope  is  at  an  end.  Then  put  the  chick  back  under  the 
ken;  she  will  probably  squeeze  it  to  death,  it  is  true,  it  is  so 
very  weak ;  but  it  will  never  live  if  put  by  the  fire,  at  least,  we 
always  found  it  so.  Indeed,  as  we  have  said,  we  consider  it 
quite  useless  to  make  the  attempt  at  all. 

But  with  good  eggs,  a  good  hen,  and  good  management,  all 
will  go  right,  and  there  will  be  in  due  time  a  goodly  number 
of  strong  and  healthy  chickens,  to  the  mutual  delight  of  the 
hen  and  of  her  owner.  And  with  the  treatment  of  the  young 

brood  we  will  begin  another  chapter. 

•  ^n 

^^ 

f  OF  THE     ^ 

[    UNIVERSITY 


V 


OF 


41  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

CHAPTER   V. 

THE  HEARING  AND   FATTENING   OF   CHICKENS. 

FOR  nearly  twenty- four  hours  after  hatching,  chickens  require  no- 
food  at  all ;  and  though  we  do  not  think  it  best  to  leave  them  quite 
so  long  as  this  without  it,  we  should  let  them  remain  for  at  least 
twelve  hours  undisturbed.  We  say  undisturbed,  because  it  is  a 
very  common  practice  to  take  those  first  hatched  away  from  the- 
hen,  and  put  them  in  a  basket  by  the  fire  till  the  whole  brood 
is  out.  When  the  eggs  have  varied  much  in  age,  this  course 
'must  be  adopted ;  for  some  chickens  will  be  perhaps  a  whole 
day  or  more  behind  the  others,  and  the  hen,  if  she  felt  the  little 
things  moving  beneath  her,  would  not  stay  long  enough  to 
hatch  the  rest.  But  we  have  explained  in  the  last  chapter  that 
this  should  not  be,  and  that  if  the  eggs  are  all  fresh,  the 
chicks  will  all  appear  within  a  few  hours  of  each  other.  In 
that  case  they  are  much  better  left  with  their  mother  :  the  lieut 
of  her  body  appears  to  strengthen  and  nourish  them  in  a 
far  better  manner  than  any  other  warmth,  and  they  are  happy 
and  contented,  instead  of  moving  restlessly  about  as  they  always 
do  whilst  away  from  her. 

Our  own  plan  is  to  set  the  eggs  in  the  evening,  when  the 
chicks  will  break  the  shell  in  the  evening  also,  or  perhaps  the 
afternoon.  Then  at  night  let  the  state  of  the  brood  be  once 
only  examined,  all  egg-shells  removed  from  the  nest,  and  the 
hen,  if  she  be  tame  enough  to  receive  it,  given  food  and 
water.  Let  her  afterwards  be  so  shut  in  that  she  cannot  leave 
her  nest,  and  all  may  be  left  safely  till  the  moiiring.  By  that 
time  the  chicks  will  be  strong  and  lively,  quite  ready  for  their 
first  meal ;  and  unless  some  of  the  eggs  are  known  to  be  very 
stale,  any  not  hatched  then  are  little  likely  to  hatch  at  all. 
If  this  be  so,  the  chicks  may  be  removed  and  put  in  flannel  by 


FIRST   MEAL    OF   THE   CHICKENS.  45 

the  fire,  and  another  day  patiently  waited,  to  see  if  any  more 
will  appear.  We  should  not  do  so,  however,  if  a  fair  number 
h.-id  hatched  well;  for  they  never  thrive  so  well  away  from  the  hen, 
and  it  is  scarcely  worth  while  to  injure  the  healthy  portion  of 
the  brood  for  the  sake  of  one  or  two  which  very  probably  may 
not  live  after  all. 

The  first  meal  should  be  given  on  tJie  nest,  and  the  best 
material  for  it  is  an  equal  mixture  of  hard-boiled  yolk  of  egg 
and  stale  bread-crumbs,  the  latter  slightly  moistened  with  milk. 
Let  the  hen  be  allowed  to  partake  of  this  also — she  needs  it ; 
and  then  give  her  besides  as  much  barley  as  she  will  eat,  and 
offer  her  water,  which  she  will  drink  greedily.  To  satisfy 
the  hen  at  first  saves  much  restlessness  and  trouble  with  her 
afterwards. 

There  is  a  stupid  practice  adopted  by  many,  of  removing 
the  little  horny  scale  which  appears  on  every  chicken's  beak, 
with  the  idea  of  enabling  them  to  peck  better,  and  then  to  put 
food  or  pepper-corns  down  their  throats,  and  dip  their  bills  in 
water  to  make  them  drink.  It  is  a  mistake  to  say  that  if  this 
does  no  good  it  can  do  no  harm  :  the  little  beaks  are  very  soft 
and  tender,  and  are  often  injured  by  such  barbarous  treatment. 
Leave  them  alone.  If  they  do  not  eat  or  drink — and  chickens 
seldom  drink  the  first  day — it  only  shows  they  do  not  wish  to ; 
for  to  fill  an  empty  stomach  is  the  first  and  universal  instinct  of 
all  living  things. 

The  brood  having  been  fed,  the  next  step  will  depend  upon 
circumstances.  If,  as  we  recommend,  the  chickens  were 
hatched  the  night  before,  or  be  well  upon  their  legs,  and  the 
weather  be  fine,  they  may  be  at  once  moved  out,  and  the  hen 
cooped  where  her  little  ones  can  get  the  sun.  If  it  be  winter, 
or  settled  wet  weather,  the  hen  must,  if  possible,  be  kept  on 
her  nest  this  day  also,  and  when  removed  be  cooped  in  a  dry 
shed  or  outhouse. 

The  best  arrangement,  where  there  is  convenience  for  it,  is 


46 


GENERAL    MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 


that  shown  in  .Fig.  8.  A  shed,  six  feet  square,  is  reared 
against  the  wall,  with  a  southern  exposure,  and  the  coop  placed 
under  it.  This  coop  should  be  made  on  a  plan  very  common 
in  some  parts  of  France,  and  consists  of  two  compartments, 
separated  by  a  partition  of  bars  ;  one  compartment  being  closed 


Mg.  8. 

in  front,  the  other  fronted  with  bars  like  the  partition.  Each 
set  of  bars  should  have  a  sliding  one  to  serve  as  a  door,  and  the 
whole  coop  should  be  tight  and  sound.  It  is  best  to  have  no 
bottom,  but  to  put  it  on  loose  dry  earth  or  ashes,  an  inch  or 
two  deep.  Each  half  of  the  coop  is  about  two  feet  six  inches 
square,  and  may  or  may  not  be  lighted  from  the  top  by  a  small 
pane  of  glass. 

The  advantage  of  such  a  coop  and  shed  is,  that  except  in 
very  severe  weather,  no  further  shelter  is  required  even  at 


THE   REAKIXG   COOP.  47 

night.  During  the  day  the  hen  is  kept  in  the  outer  compart- 
ment, the  chickens  having  liberty,  and  the  food  and  water 
being  placed  outside ;  whilst  at  night  she  is  put  in  the  inner 
portion  of  the  coop,  and  a  piece  of  canvas  or  sacking  hung  over 
the  bars  of  the  outer  half.  If  the  top  be  glazed,  a  little  food 
and  the  water  vessel  may  be  placed  in  the  outer  compartment 
at  night,  and  the  chicks  will  be  able  to  run  out  and  feed  early 
in  the  morning,  being  prevented  by  the  canvas  from  going  out 
into  the  cold  air.  It  will  be  only  needful  to  remove  the  coop 
every  two  days  for  a  few  minutes,  to  take  away  the  tainted 
earth  and  replace  it  with  fresh.  There  should,  if  possible,  be  a 
grass-plot  in  front  of  the  shed,  the  floor  of  which  should  be 
covered  with  dry  loose  dust  or  earth. 

Under  such  a  shed  chickens  will  thrive  well ;  but  if  such 
cannot  be  obtained,  sufficient  shelter  during  ordinary  breeding 
seasons  may  be  obtained  by  the  use  of  a  well-made  board  coop, 
with  a  gabled  roof  covered  with  felt.  This  coop  should  be 
open  in  front  only,  and  be  two  feet  six  inches  or  three  feet 
square.  At  night  let  a  thick  canvas  wrappering  be  hung  over 
the  front. 

The  ordinary  basket  coop  is  only  fit  to  be  used  in  perfectly 
fine  weather,  when  it  is  convenient  to  place  on  a  lawn.  Some 
straw,  weighted  by  a  stone,  or  other  covering,  should,  however, 
be  placed  on  the  top,  to  give  shelter  from  the  mid-day  sun. 

It  is  often  necessary  in  considerable  establishments  to  carry 
the  hen  and  her  brood  for  a  considerable  distance.  For  thi» 
purpose  the  box  shown  in  Fig.  9  will  be  found  very  convenient. 
It  may  be  made  in  either  one  or  two  divisions,  and  the  chickens 
will  be  thus  managed  with  no  trouble,  as  they  cannot  escape 
when  put  in  at  the  top,  whilst  they  are  readily  let  out  again 
by  the  door. 

Chickens  should  always,  if  possible,  be  cooped  near  grass. 
No  single  circumstance  is  so  conducive  to  health,  size,  and 
vigour,  supposing  them  to  be  decently  well  cared  for,  as  even  a 


48 


GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 


small  grass  run  such  as  that  provided  in  Fig.  2.  Absolute  clean- 
liness is  also  essential,  even  more  than  for  grown  fowls ;  and 
the  reason  why  difficulty  is  often  experienced  in  rearing  large 
numbers  is,  that  the  ground  becomes  so  tainted  with  their 
excrements.  The  coop  should,  therefore,  be  either  moved  to  a 
fresh  place  every  day,  or  the  dry  earth  under  be  carefully 


removed.  A  very  good  plan,  and  one  we  have  found  in  a 
limited  space  to  answer  remarkably  well,  is  to  have  a  wooden 
gable-roofed  coop  made  with  a  wooden  bottom,  and  to  cover  this 
an  inch  deep  with  perfectly  dry  earth,  or  fine  sifted  ashes.  The 
ashes  are  renewed  every  evening  in  five  minutes,  and  form  a 
nice  warm  bed  for  the  chicks,  clean  and  sweet,  and  much  better 
than  straw. 

Cats  sometimes  make  sad  inroads  on  the  broods.  If  this 
nuisance  be  great,  it  is  well  to  confine  the  coveted  prey  while 
young  within  a  wire-covered  ran.  And  the  best  way  of  form- 
ing such  a  run,  is  to  stretch  some  inch-mesh  wire-netting,  two 
feet  wide,  upon  a  light  wooden  frame,  so  as  to  form  two  wire 
hurdles,  two  feet  wide  and  about  six  feet  long,  with  one  three 
feet  long.  These  are  easily  lashed  together  with  string  to  form 
a  run  six  feet  by  three  (Fig.  10),  and  may  be  covered  by  a 
similar  hurdle  of  two- inch  mesh  three  feet  wide.  In  such  a 


FEEDING. 


49 


mn  all  animal  depreciations  may  be  defied ;  and  in  any  case  we 
should  recommend  its  use  until  the  chicks  are  a  fortnight  old ; 
it  saves  a  world  of  trouble  and  anxiety,  and  prevents  the  brood 
wandering  and  getting  over-tired.  By  having  an  assortment 
of  such  hurdles,  portable  runs  can  be  constructed  in  a  few 
minutes  of  any  extent  required,  and  will  be  found  of  great 


Fig.  10. 

advantage  until  the  broods  are  strong.  The  hen  may  also  be 
given  her  liberty  within  the  prescribed  bounds. 

With  regard  to  feeding,  if  the  question  be  asked  what  is  the 
best  food  for  chickens,  irrespective  of  price,  the  answer  must 
decidedly  be  oatmeal  After  the  first  meal  of  bread-crumbs  and 
egg  no  food  is  equal  to  it,  if  coarsely  ground,  and  only  moistened 
so  much  as  to  remain  crumbly.  The  price  of  oatmeal  is,  how- 
ever, so  high  as  to  forbid  its  use  in  general,  except  for  valuable 
broods  ;  but  we  should  still  advise  it  for  the  first  week,  in  order 
to  lay  a  good  foundation.  It  may  be  moistened  either  with 
water  or  milk,  but  in  the  latter  case  only  sufficient  must  be 
mixed  for  each  feeding,  as  it  will  turn  sour  within  an  hour  in 
the  sun,  and  in  that  condition  is  very  injurious  to  the  chickens. 

For  the  first  three  or  four  days  the  yolk  of  an  egg  boiled 
hard  should  also  be  chopped  up  small,  and  daily  given  to  each 
dozen  chicks ;  and  when  this  is  discontinued,  a  little  cooked 
meat,  minced  fine,  should  be  given  once  a  day  till  about  three 


50  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF   FOWLS. 

weeks  old.  The  cost  of  this  will  be  inappreciable,  as  a  piece 
the  size  of  a  good  walnut  is  sufficient  for  a  whole  brood,  and 
the  chickens  will  have  more  constitution  and  fledge  better  than 
if  no  animal  food  is  supplied. 

Food  must  be  given  very  often.  For  the  first  week  every 
hour  is  not  too  much,  though  less  will  do;  the  next  three 
weeks,  every  two  hours ;  from  one  to  two  months  old,  every 
three  hours  ;  and  after  that,  three  times  a  day  will  be  sufficient. 
To  feed  very  often,  giving  just  enough  fresh  food  to  be  entirely 
eaten  each  time,  is  the  one  great  secret  of  getting  fine  birds. 
If  the  meals  are  fewer,  and  food  be  left,  it  gets  sour,  the  chicks 
do  not  like  it,  and  will  not  take  so  much  as  they  ought  to 
have. 

After  the  first  week  the  oatmeal  can  be  changed  for  cheaper 
food.  "We  can  well  recommend  any  of  the  following,  and  it  is 
best  to  change  from  one  to  another,  say  about  every  fortnight. 
An  equal  mixture  of  "sharps"  and  barley-meal,  or  "sharps" 
and  buckwheat- meal,  or  of  bran  and  Indian  meal ;  or  of  bran, 
oatmeal,  and  Indian  meal.  The  last  our  own  chickens  like 
best  of  all,  and  as  the  cheap  bran  balances  the  oatmeal,  it  is  not 
a  dear  food,  and  the  chicks  will  grow  upon  it  rapidly.  Potatoes 
mashed  with  bran  are  also  most  excellent  food. 

The  above  will  form  the  staple  food,  but  after  a  day  or  two 
some  grain  should  be  given  in  addition.  Groats  chopped  up 
with  a  knife  are  excellent ;  so  is  crushed  wheat  or  bruised  oats. 
Chickens  seem  to  prefer  grits  to  anything,  but  it  is  not  equal 
to  meal  as  a  permanent  diet.  A  little  of  either  one  or  the 
other  should,  however,  be  given  once  or  twice  a  day,  and  in 
particular  should  form  the  last  meal  at  night,  for  the  reasons 
given  in  page  23. 

Bread  sopped  in  water  is  the  worst  possible  food  for  chickens, 
causing  weakness  and  general  diarrhoea.  "With  railk  it  is 
better,  but  not  equal  to  meal. 

Green  food  is  even  more  necessary  to  chickens  than  to 


DIET   IN   COLD   WEATHER.  51 

adult  fowls.  Whilst  very  young  it  is  best  to  cut  some  grass 
into  veiy  small  morsels  for  them  with  a  pair  of  scissors  ;  after- 
wards they  will  crop  it  for  themselves  if  allowed.  Should  there 
be  no  grass  plot  available,  cabbage  or  lettuce-leaves  must  be 
regularly  given — minced  small  at  first)  but  thrown  down  whole 
as  soon  as  the  beaks  of  the  chickens  are  strong  enough  to  enable 
them  to  help  themselves. 

In  winter  or  very  early  spring  the  chickens  must,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  above  feeding,  have  more  stimulating  diet.  Some 
under-done  meat  or  egg  should  be  continued  regularly,  and  it 
is  generally  necessary  to  give  also,  once  a  day  at  least,  some 
stale  bread  soaked  in  ale.  They  should  also  be  fed  about  eight 
or  nine  o'clock,  by  candle-light,  and  early  in  the  morning.  In 
no  other  way  can  Dorkings  or  Spanish  be  successfully  reared 
at  this  inclement  season,  though  the  hardier  breeds  will  often 
get  along  very  well  with  the  ordinary  feeding.  Ale  and  meat, 
with  liberal  feeding  otherwise,  will  rear  chickens  at  the  coldest 
seasons;  and  the  extra  cost  is  more  than  met  by  the  extra 
prices  then  obtained  in  the  market.  But  shelter  they  must 
have  ;  and  those  who  have  not  at  command  a  large  outhouse  or 
shed  to  keep  them  in  while  tender,  should  not  attempt  to  raise 
winter  or  early  spring  chickens — if  they  do,  the  result  will  only 
be  disappointment  and  loss.  The  broods  should  only  be  let 
out  on  the  open  gravel  or  grass  in  bright,  or  at  least  clear,  dry 
weather. 

At  the  age  of  four  months  the  chickens,  if  of  the  larger 
breeds,  should  be  grown  enough  for  the  table ;  and  if  they  have 
been  well  fed,  and  come  of  good  stock,  they  will  bo.  For  our- 
selves we  say,  let  them  be  eaten  as  they  are — they  will  be  quite 
fat  enough  ;  and  fattening  is  a  very  delicate  process,  success  in 
which  it  takes  some  experience  to  acquire.  For  market,  how- 
ever, a  fatted  fowl  is  more  valuable ;  and  the  birds  should  be 
penned  up  for  a  farther  fortnight  or  three  weeks,  which  ought 
to  add  at  least  two  pounds  to  their  weight.  For  a  limited 

E  2 


52 


GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF    FOWLS. 


number  of  chickens  it  will  be  sufficient  to  provide  a  small 
number  of  simply  constructed  pens,  such  as  are  represented 
in  Fig.  11.  Each  compartment  should  measure  about  nine 
by  eighteen  inches,  by  about  eighteen  inches  high ;  and  the 
bottom  should  not  consist  of  board,  but  be  formed  of  bars  two 
inches  wide  placed  two  inches  apart,  the  top  corners  being 
rounded  off.  The  partitions,  top  and  back,  are  board,  as  the 


Fattening  Pens.    Fig.  11. 

birds  should  not  see  each  other.  These  pens  ought  to  be 
placed  about  two  inches  from  the  ground  in  a  darkish,  but 
not  cold  or  draughty  place,  and  a  shallow  tray  be  intro- 
duced underneath,  filled  with  fresh  dry  earth  every  day, 
to  catch  the  droppings.  This  is  the  best  and  least  trouble- 
some method  of  keeping  the  birds  clean  and  in  good  health. 
As  fast  as  each  occupant  of  a  pen  is  withdrawn  for  execu- 
tion its  pen  should  be  whitewashed  all  over  inside,  and 
allowed  to  get  perfectly  dry  before  another  is  introduced. 
This  will  usually  prevent  much  trouble  from  insect  vermin : 
but  if  a  bird  appears  restless  from  that  cause,  some  powdered 
sulphur,  rubbed  well  into  the  roots  of  the  feathers,  will  give 
immediate  relief. 

In  front  of  each  compartment  should  be  a  ledge  three  inches 


FATTENING.  53 

wide,  on  which  to  place  the  food  and  water-tins.  The  latter 
must  be  replenished  once,  the  former  three  times  a  day ;  and 
after  each  meal  the  pens  must  be  darkened  for  half  the  time 
until  the  next,  by  hanging  a  cloth  over  the  front.  This  cloth 
is  best  tacked  along  at  the  top,  when  it  can  be  conveniently 
hung  over  or  folded  back  as  required.  The  two  hours'  dark- 
ness ensures  quiet  and  thorough  digestion ;  but  it  is  not 
desirable,  as  most  do,  to  keep  the  birds  thus  the  whole  time 
till  the  next  meal,  as  the  chickens  will  have  a  much  better 
appetite  on  the  plan  we  recommend. 

The  best  food  for  fattening  is  buckwheat-meal,  when  it  can  be 
obtained ;  and  it  is  to  the  use  of  this  grain  the  French  owe,  in 
a  great  measure,  the  splendid  fowls  they  send  to  market.  If 
it  cannot  be  procured,  the  best  substitute  is  an  equal  mixture 
of  Indian  and  barley-meal.  Each  bird  should  have  as  much  as 
it  will  eat  at  one  time,  but  no  food  left  to  become  sour  :  a 
little  barley  may,  however,  be  scattered  on  the  ledge.  The 
meal  may  be  mixed  with  skim-milk  if  available.  A  little 
minced  green  food  should  be  given  daily,  to  keep  the  bowels  in 
proper  order. 

In  three  weeks  the  process  ought  to  be  completed.  It 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  fat  only  is  added  by  thus  penning 
a  chicken ;  the  lean  or  flesh  must  be  made  before,  and  unless 
the  chicken  has  attained  the  proper  standard  in  this  respect,  it 
is  useless  even  to  attempt  to  fatten  it.  Hence  the  importance 
of  high  feeding  from  the  very  shell.  The  secret  of  rearing 
chickens  profitably  is,  to  get  them  ready  for  the  table  at  the 
earliest  possible  period,  and  not  to  let  them  live  a  single  day 
after.  Every  such  day  is  a  dead  loss,  for  they  cannot  be  kept 
fat ;  once  up  to  the  mark,  if  not  killed  they  get  feverish  and 
begin  to  waste  away  again.  To  make  poultry  profitable,  even 
on  a  small  scale,  everything  must  go  upon  system ;  and  that 
system  is,  to  kill  the  chickens  the  very  day  they  are  ready  for  it. 

If  extra   weight   and   fat   is   wanted,   the   birds   may   be 


54  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT  OF  FOWLS. 

crammed  during  the  last  ten  days  of  the  fattening  period,  but 
not  before.  The  meal  is  to  be  rolled  up  the  thickness  of  a 
finger,  and  then  cut  into  pellets  an  inch  and  a  half  long.  Each 
morsel  must  be  dipped  in  water  before  it  is  put  into  the  bird's 
throat,  when  there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  swallowing.  The 
quantity  given  can  only  be  learnt  by  experience. 

For  home  use,  however,  nothing  can  equal  a  chicken  never 
fattened  at  all,  but  just  taken  out  of  the  yard.  If  well  fed 
there  will  be  plenty  of  good  meat,  and  the  fat  of  a  fowl  is  to 
most  persons  no  particular  delicacy.  In  any  case,  however,  let 
the  chicken  be  fasted  twelve  hours  before  it  is  killed. 

There  are  various  modes  of  killing — all  of  them  very 
effectual  in  practised  hands.  One  is  to  give  the  bird  a  very 
sharp  blow  with  a  small  but  heavy  stick  behind  the  neck, 
about  the  second  joint  from  the  head,  which  will,  if  properly 
done,  sever  the  spine  and  cause  death  very  speedily.  Another 
is  to  clasp  the  bird's  head  in  the  hand  and  swing  the  body 
round  by  it — a  process  which  also  kills  by  parting  the  ver- 
tebrce.  M.  Soyer  recommends  that  the  joints  be  pulled  apart, 
which  can  easily  be  effected  by  seizing  the  head  in  the  right 
hand,  placing  the  thumb  just  at  the  back  of  the  skull,  and 
giving  a  smarb  jerk  of  the  hand,  the  other,  of  course,  holding 
the  neck  of  the  fowl.  And  lastly,  there  is  the  knife,  which  we 
consider,  after  all,  the  most  merciful  plan,  as  it  causes  no  more 
pain  than  that  occasioned  by  the  momentary  operation  itself. 
We  do  not  advocate  cutting  the  throat ;  but  having  first  hung 
up  the  bird  by  the  legs,  thrust  a  long,  narrow,  and  sharp- 
pointed  knife,  like  a  long  penknife,  which  is  made  for  the 
purpose,  through  the  back  part  of  the  roof  of  the  mouth  up 
into  the  brain.  Death  will  be  almost  instantaneous,  which  is 
too  seldom  the  case  when  dislocation  is  employed. 

Fowls  are  easiest  plucked  at  once,  whilst  still  warm,  and 
should  be  afterwards  scalded  by  dipping  them  for  just  one 
instant  in  boiling  water.  This  process  will  make  any  decent- 


55 

fowl  look  plump  and  nice,  and  poor  ones,  of  course,  ought  not 
to  be  killed  at  all  They  should  not  be  "drawn"  until  the 
day  they  are  wanted,  as  they  will  keep  much  longer  without. 

With  respect  to  old  fowls,  in  the  market  they  are  an 
abomination;  but  at  home  it  is  sometimes  needful  to  use 
them.  If  so,  let  them  be  boiled.  Unless  very  aged,  they  will 
then  be  tolerable  eating ;  but  if  roasted,  will  be  beyond  most 
persons'  power  of  mastication. 


CHAPTER  VL 

DISEASES     OF     POULTRY. 

IF  fowls  are  kept  clean,  and  well  sheltered  from  wind  and 
wet ;  are  not  overfed,  and  have  a  due  proportion  of  both  soft 
and  green  food,  with  a  never-failing  supply  of  clean  water,  they 
will  remain  free  from  disease,  unless  infected  by  strangers. 
And  when  a  fowl  becomes  ill,  the  best  cure  in  nearly  every 
case  is  to  kill  it  before  it  is  too  bad  to  be  eaten.  Only  in  the 
case  of  valuable  birds,  which  people  are  naturally  unwilling  to 
sacrifice,  do  we  recommend  much  attempt  at  a  cure,  and  even 
then  only  where  the  disease  is  so  defined  and  evident  that  the 
treatment  is  sure.  To  prescribe  for  a  fowl  in  the  dark  is  one 
of  the  most  hopeless  speculations  that  can  well  be. 

As  this  work  is  intended  to  be  strictly  practical,  it  is  only 
for  such  well-defined  complaints  we  shall  prescribe;  and  in 
doing  so,  it  is  only  justice  to  acknowledge  the  great  services 
rendered  in  this  matter  to  the  whole  poultry  world  by  Mr. 
W.  B.  Tegetmeier.  That  gentleman  has  long  made  the  diseases 
of  fowls  his  peculiar  study,  and  has  been  above  all  others  success- 
ful in  the  treatment  of  them ;  and  the  greater  part  of  this 
chapter  is  founded  more  or  less  directly  upon  his  authority. 

Besides  actual  diseases,  there  are  certain  natural  ailments, 


56  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT    OF    FOWLS. 

as  they  may  be  called,  to  which  all  fowls  may  be  subject,  and 
which  demand  treatment. 

Bad  Fledging. — Chickens  often  droop  and  suffer  much 
whilst  their  feathers  are  growing,  especially  in  cold  web 
weather;  and  the  breeds  which  feather  most  rapidly  suffer 
most.  This  is  probably  one  reason  why  Cochins  and  Brahmas, 
which  fledge  late  and  slowly,  are  so  hardy.  As  soon  as  a  brood 
appears  drooping  whilst  the  feathers  grow,  if  it  has  not  been 
done  before,  begin  at  once  giving  them  a  little  meat  every  day, 
and  some  bread  sopped  in  ale.  A  little  burnt  oyster-shell, 
pounded  very  fine,  and  added  to  their  food,  is  also  beneficial. 
Keep  them  out  of  the  wet,  above  all  things,  and  they  will 
generally  come  round.  This  crisis  seldom  lasts  more  than  a 
week  or  ten  days ;  the  chicks  either  die  off,  or  recover  their 
health  and  vigour. 

Leg  Weakness. — Highly-fed  chickens  which  grow  fast,  bred 
from  prize  stock,  are  most  subject  to  this ;  which  simply  arises 
from  outgrowing  their  strength,  and  must  be  met  accordingly 
by  animal  food  and  tonics.  Give  meat  or  worms  every  day, 
and  unless  it  be  cold  weather,  dip  the  legs  for  a  few  minutes 
daily  in  cold  water.  The  prescription  will  be,  three  or  four 
grains  of  ammonio-citrate  of  iron  for  each  chicken,  given  every 
day,  dissolved  in  the  water  with  which  the  meal  is  mixed. 

The  above  affection  must  not  be  confounded  with  cramp 
from  cold  and  wet,  which  also  makes  the  birds  unable  to 
walk,  or  even  stand,  but  for  which  cold  bathing  would  be  most 
injurious.  In  this  case,  the  only  treatment  is  warmth,  feeding 
meanwhile  on  meal  mixed  with  ale,  and  always  given  warm. 
Under  this  regimen  the  bird  will  soon  recover,  unless  the  attack 
has  been  long  unperceived  and  neglected. 

JBad  Moulting. — Old  fowls  sometimes  suffer  much  at  this 
season,  especially  if  the  precautions  recommended  in  Chapter 
III.  have  been  overlooked.  These  precautions  contain  the 
only  effectual  treatment.  Give  stimulating  food,  warm,  every 


DISEASES.  57 

morning,  and  well  peppered,  with  meat  and  ale  every  day,  and 
keep  under  cover  in  wet  weather.  Add  also  iron,  in  the  form 
of  "  Douglas  Mixture,"  to  the  drinking  water ;  and  let  some 
hemp-seed  be  given  with  the  grain  every  evening.  The  birds, 
if  not  sunk  too  low,  will  then  usually  pull  through.  Fowls 
should  not,  however,  be  kept  until  old,  except  in  the  case 
of  pets  or  valuable  stock  birds. 

For  actual  diseases,  it  is  well  in  all  large  establishments  to 
have  a  weather-tight  and  well-ventilated  house  kept  as  a 
hospital,  in  which  healthy  fowls  should  never  be  placed.  Roup, 
in  particular,  is  so  contagious,  that  even  a  recovered  bird 
should  be  kept  by  itself  for  a  few  days  before  being  restored 
to  ifs  companions. 

Gapes  is  a  fatal  disease  of  chickens,  and  which  we  believe 
infectious  ;  it  is,  at  all  events,  epidemic.  Unless  perhaps  thus 
communicated  by  others,  it  never  occurs  except  there  has  been 
foul  water,  exposure  to  wet,  and  want  of  nourishing  food.  The 
disease  consists — at  least,  so  far  as  actual  symptoms  extend — in 
a  number  of  small  worms  which  infest  the  windpipe,  and 
cause  the  poor  chicken  to  gasp  for  breath.  If  taken  early,  it 
will  be  sufficient  to  give  every  day  a  morsel  of  camphor  the 
size  of  a  grain  of  wheat,  and  to  put  camphor  in  the  drinking 
water;  or  a  little  turpentine  may  be  given  daily  in  meal; 
taking  care,  of  course,  that  the  deficiencies  in  diet  and  shelter 
be  amended.  In  fully-developed  cases,  the  worms  must  be 
removed  by  introducing  a  loop  of  horsehair  into  the  trachea, 
and  turning  it  round  during  withdrawal ;  the  operation  to  be 
repeated  several  times,  till  all  the  worms  appear  to  be  extracted. 
A  feather,  stripped  almost  up  to  the  top,  may  be  used  instead 
of  the  horsehair.  The  frequent  occurrence  of  gapes  is  a 
disgrace  to  any  poultry-yard. 

Apoplexy  occurs  from  over-feeding,  and  can  seldom  be 
treated  in  time  to  be  of  service.  If  the  fowl,  however, 
although  insensible,  do  not  appear  actually  dead,  the  wing  may 


58  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT   OF    FOWLS. 

be  lifted,  and  a  large  vein  which  will  be  seen  underneath  freely 
opened,  after  which  hold  the  bird's  head  under  a  cold  water 
tap  for  a  few  minutes.  It  is  just  possible  it  may  recover;  if 
so,  feed  sparingly  on  soft  food  only  for  a  few  days.  In  over- 
fed hens,  this  disease  usually  occurs  during  the  exertion  of 
laying ;  if,  therefore,  a  laying  hen  be  found  dead  upon  the 
nest,  let  the  owner  at  once  examine  the  remainder,  and  should 
they  appear  in  too  high  condition,  reduce  their  allowance  of 
food  accordingly. 

Loss  of  Feathers  is  almost  always  caused  either  by  want  of 
green  food,  or  having  no  dust-bath.  Let  these  wants  therefore 
be  properly  supplied,  removing  the  fowls,  if  possible,  to  a  grass 
run.  For  local  application,  Mr.  Tegetmeier  recommends  mer- 
curial ointment,  but  we  ourselves  prefer  an  unguent  composed 
of  sulphur  and  creosote.  Nothing,  however,  will  bring  back 
the  feathers  before  the  next  moult. 

Eoup  is  always  caused  by  wet,  or  very  cold  winds.  It 
begins  with  a  common  cold,  and  terminates  in  an  offensive  dis- 
charge from  the  nostrils  and  eyes,  often  hanging  in  froth  about 
those  organs.  It  is  most  highly  contagious,  the  disease  being, 
as  we  believe,  communicated  by  the  sickly  fowl's  beak  con- 
taminating the  drinking  water ;  therefore,  let  all  fowls  affected 
by  it  be  at  once  put  by  themselves,  and  have  a  separate  water- 
vessel.  Keep  them  warm,  and  feed  with  meal  only,  mixed 
with  hot  ale  instead  of  water  ;  add  "  Douglas  Mixture  "  to  the 
water,  and  give  daily,  in  a  bolus  of  the  meal,  half  a  grain  of 
cayenne  pepper,  with  half  a  grain  of  powdered  allspice,  or  one  of 
Baily's  roup  pills.  Give  also  half  a  cabbage-leaf  every  day,  and 
wash  the  head  and  eyes  morning  and  evening  with  very  diluted 
vinegar,  or  a  five-grain  solution  of  sulphate  of  zinc.  Mr.  Teget- 
meier's  treatment  is,  to  feed  on  oatmeal  mixed  with  ale,  and 
green  food  unlimited ;  washing  the  head  with  tepid  water,  and 
giving  daily  one  grain  sulphate  of  copper.  We  prefer  the 
above.  Roup  runs  its  course  rapidly,  and  in  a  week  the  bird 


DISEASES.  50 

will  either  be  almost  well,  or  so  nearly  dead  that  it  had  better 
be  killed  at  once.  It  is  tlie  disease  of  poultry,  and  to  be  dreaded 
accordingly ;  fortunately,  the  symptoms  are  specific,  and  the 
treatment  equally  so. 

Pip  is  no  disease,  and  demands  no  treatment,  being  only 
analagous  to  "a  foul  tongue"  in  human  beings.  Cure  the 
roup,  or  bad  digestion,  or  whatever  else  be  the  real  evil,  and 
the  thickening  of  the  tongue  will  disappear  too. 

DiarrJwEa  may  be  caused  either  by  cold,  wet  weather,  with 
inadequate  shelter ;  neglect  in  cleansing  the  house  and  run ;  or 
from  the  reaction  after  constipation  caused  by  too  little  green 
food.  Feed  on  warm  barley  meal ;  give  some  green  food,  but 
not  very  much ;  and  at  first  administer,  four  times  a  day,  three 
drops  of  camphorated  spirit  on  a  pill  of  meal.  This  will 
usually  effect  a  cure.  If  the  evacuations  become  coloured 
with  blood,  the  diarrhoea  has  passed  into  dysentery,  and  re- 
covery is  almost  hopeless.  Mr.  Tegetmeier's  prescription  is 
one  grain  each  of  opium  and  ipecacuanha,  with  five  grains 
chalk ;  but  the  camphorated  spirit  is  a  better  remedy. 

Soft  Eggs  are  generally  caused  by  over-feeding  the  hens,  and 
the  remedy  is  then  self-evident.  It  may,  however,  occur  from 
want  of  lime^  which  must  of  course  be  supplied,  the  best  form 
being  calcined  and  pounded  oyster-shells.  Occasionally  it  is 
occasioned  by  fright,  from  being  driven  about,  but  in  that  case 
will  right  itself  in  a  day  or  two.  If  perfect  eggs  are  habitually 
dropped  on  the  ground,  the  proprietor  should  see  whether  the 
nests  do  not  need  purifying.  This  leads  us  to 

Insect  Vermin,  which  can  only  be  troublesome  from  gross 
neglect,  either  of  the  fowls  or  of  their  habitations.  In  the  one 
case,  the  remedy  is  a  dust-bath,  mixed  with  powdered  coke  or 
sulphur ;  in  the  other,  an  energetic  lime- washing  of  the  houses 
and  sheds  will  get  rid  of  the  annoyance. 

It  will  be  seen  that  by  far  the  greater  proportion  of  poultry 
diseases  arise  either  from  cold  and  wet,  or  neglect  in  preserving 


60  GENERAL   MANAGEMENT    OF    FOWLS. 

cleanliness — often  both  combined.  It  should  be  noted  also, 
that  the  first  general  symptom  of  nearly  all  such  diseases  is 
diarrhoea,  which  we  have  observed  usually  manifests  itself  even 
in  roup,  before  any  discharge  from  the  nostrils  is  perceptible. 
At  this  stage  much  evil  may  be  warded  off.  Whenever  a  fowl 
hangs  its  wings,  arid  looks  drooping,  let  it  be  seen  at  once 
whether  it  appears  purged,  and  if  so,  give  immediately,  in  a 
table-spoonful  of  warm  water,  a  tea-spoonful  of  strong  brandy 
saturated  with  camphor.  Repeat  this  next  morning,  and  in 
most  cases  the  disease,  whatever  it  is,  will  be  checked ;  care 
being  of  course  taken  to  give  the  invalid  warmth  and  good 
shelter,  with  ale  in  its  food.  If  the  evacuation  continues, 
administer  the  stronger  prescription  given  for  diarrhoea. 

We  could  easily  fill  a  long  chapter  with  further  prescrip- 
tions, but  we  believe  that  the  above  are  all  that  can  be  usefully 
given.  Special  diseases,  such  as  white  comb  in  Cochins,  and 
black-rot  in  Spanish,  will  be  mentioned  under  the  head  of  the 
breeds  to  which  they  more  particularly  belong. 


SECTION    II 

THE  BEEED1XG  AND  EXHIBITION  OF  PRIZE 
POULTRY. 


SECTION     II. 


ON  a  subject  involving  so  many  conditions  for  success,  and 
dependent  so  much  upon  circumstances,  as  the  breeding  of 
poultry  for  exhibition,  it  will  be  easily  understood  that  the 
opinion  of  even  the  best  authorities  on  some  points  is  by 
no  means  uniform. 

Many  breeders,  for  instance,  consider  it  almost  a  sin  to 
try  the  effect  of  a  cross;  whilst  others  aver,  with  good 
reason,  that  crossing  has  done  much  towards  the  formation 
of  some  of  our  best  breeds. 

All,  however,  are  agreed  with  respect  to  the  essentials 
of  practical  rearing,  and  the  following  pages  embody  the 
experience  and  knowledge  of  the  most  eminent  breeders  in 
the  kingdom.  What  can  be  taught  by  perusal  we  believe 
will  be  found  here  contained ;  and  we  trust  this  Section 
will  be  found  of  some  real  use  in  imparting  information 
on  matters  concerning  which  nothing  in  any  connected 
form  has  hitherto  been  written. 


* 

f    UNI 


UN1VER' 


THE 

BEEEDIXG  AND  EXHIBITION  OF  PEIZE  POULTEY. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

YARDS  AND   ACCOMMODATION   ADAPTED    FOR    BREEDING   PRIZE 
POULTRY. 

WHETHER  the  breeding  of  poultry  with  a  view  to  exhibition 
can  be  made  profitable,  or  otherwise,  is  a  much  vexed  question 
amongst  amateurs.  For  ourselves,  we  believe  that  the  answer 
must  depend  partly  upon  the  means  of  the  fancier ;  still  more 
upon  the  experience  and  knowledge  he  brings  to  bear  upon  the 
subject;  and  not  a  little  upon  the  breed  to  which  his  fancy 
inclines  him.  "We  are  acquainted  with  breeders  who  never 
could  make  the  produce  of  their  yards  quite  meet  the  current 
expenses;  and  we  also  know  at  least  half-a-dozen,  of  high 
standing  at  all  the  principal  shows,  whose  yards  yield  them  a 
clear  profit  varying  from  £20  to  £200  per  annum.  It  is,  there- 
fore, most  certainly  possible  to  make  even  the  "fancy"  for 
poultry  remunerative;  and  with  the  kind  assistance  of  some 
of  its  most  enthusiastic  devotees  we  shall  in  this  and  the  fol- 
lowing chapters  endeavour  to  give  such  information  on  the  sub- 
ject as  can  be  thus  communicated,  and  such  directions  as 
the  long  experience  of  many  has  proved  likely  to  lead  to  success. 
But  first  of  all  it  is  necessary  to  consider  the  question  of 
accommodation. 

The  plan  of  a  poultry-yard  given  at  page  11,  with  the 


64  BREEDING   AND    EXHIBITION   OF    PRIZE    POULTRY. 

addition  of  a  lawn  or  separate  grass-run,  on  which  young- 
chickens  may  be  cooped  separately,  is  very  well  adapted  for 
rearing  most  breeds  upon  a  moderate  scale.  The  two  runs  may 
be  used  to  separate  the  sexes  during  autumn  if  preferred,  or 
to  keep  the  chickens  apart  from  the  old  fowls ;  whilst  the  run 
for  the  sitting  hens  will,  after  this  design  has  been  fulfilled,  be 
very  convenient  for  the  reception  of  one  or  two  single  cocks,  or 
any  other  casual  purpose.  To  ensure  success,  the  most  exquisite 
cleanliness  must  be  observed,  and  at  the  beginning  of  every 
year  the  grass  in  the  runs  should  be  carefully  renewed,  if 
necessary,  by  liberal  sowing,  of  course  keeping  the  fowls  off 
it  till  thoroughly  rooted  again.  At  this  season  the  confinement 
thus  involved  will  not  be  injurious,  provided  green  food  be 
supplied  in  the  sheds,  in  lieu  of  the  grass  to  which  the  birds 
have  been  accustomed.  With  such  precautions,  at  least  forty 
or  fifty  chickens  may  be  reared  annually,  and  from  such  a  num- 
ber there  should  be  little  difficulty,  if  the  parents  were  selected 
with  judgment,  in  matching  two  or  three  pens  fit  for  exhibition. 

But  more  extensive  accommodation  will  be  necessary  if 
very  high  and  extensive  repute  in  any  particular  breed  be 
desired,  with  the  capability — which  alone  makes  such  reputation 
remunerative — of  being  able  to  supply  an  extensive  demand 
for  eggs  and  stock.  In  that  case  provision  has  to  be  made  for 
keeping  not  only  separate  strains,  in  order  that  the  proprietor 
may  be  able  to  cross  and  breed  from  the  produce  of  his  own 
yards,  but  there  will  be  a  much  larger  number  of  cockerels  than 
can  be  needed,  and  as  they  are  much  too  valuable  for  the  table, 
they  also  have  to  be  accommodated  apart  from  the  other  fowls, 
until  disposed  of.  We  shall,  by  the  kind  permission  of  the 
eminent  breeders  whose  establishments  are  represented,  give 
two  plans,  each  excellently  adapted  to  secure  these  objects, 
though  of  very  different  arrangement ;  and  which  may  easily 
be  modified  to  meet  any  possible  case. 

The  first  (Fig.  12)  represents  the  poultry-yard  of  Mr.  H. 


Fig.  12. 


CKOSS  SECTION. 


•i  !' 

. 

B 

C 

|  •• 

! 

I 

B 

C 

1     ^ 

GRASS. 

| 

g 

| 

j 

1 

0 

'    A 

B 

c 

B 

c 

i 

i 

GRASS. 

i 

'  ;! 

B 

c 

a 


PLAN. 


20 


35, 


SCALE  OF  FEET. 


66  BREEDING   AND    EXHIBITION.  OP   PEIZE   POULTilY. 

Lane,  the  well-known  fancier  of  Bristol,  and  will  be  found 
peculiarly  adapted  for  the  rearing  of  either  Spanish  or  any  other 
delicate  breed ;  protection  from  inclement  weather,  as  well  as 
convenience  of  access  and  superintendence,  having  been  specially 
studied. 

In  this  design  A  is  a  covered  passage  which  runs  along  the 
back  of  all,  and  by  a  door  which  opens  into  each  allows  of 
ready  access  to  every  house  in  any  weather.  One  end  of 
this  passage  may  open  into  some  part  of  the  dwelling-house 
if  desired.  The  passage  should  have  a  skylight  at  top,  and 
must  also  be  freely  ventilated  at  the  roof ;  to  secure  this 
object  by  having  it  open  at  either  end  would  cause  draught, 
and  destroy  the  peculiar  excellence  of  the  arrangement.  The 
houses,  B,  for  roosting  and  laying  in  are  7J  feet  by  4  feet,  and 
the  side  facing  the  passage  is  only  built  or  boarded  up  about 
2  feet,  the  remainder  being  simply  netted ;  hence  the  birds 
have  a  free  supply  of  the  purest  air  at  night,  whilst  quite 
protected  from  the  external  atmosphere ;  and  can  be  all 
inspected  at  roost  without  the  least  disturbance — a  conveni- 
ence of  no  small  value.  The  nests  should  be  reached  from  the 
passage  by  a  trap-door,  and  there  is  then  no  necessity  ever  to 
enter  the  roosting-house  at  all  except  to  clean  it. 

A  small  trap-door  as  usual,  which  should  be  always  closed 
at  night,  communicates  between  the  house  and  the  covered 
runs  or  yards,  C,  which  are  7J  feet  by  9  feet.  They  are 
boarded  or  built  up  for  2  feet  6  inches,  the  remainder  netted, 
except  the  partition  between  them  and  the  houses,  which  is, 
of  course,  quite  close.  Both  houses  and  runs  must  be  covered 
with  some  deodoriser,  and  Mr.  Lane  prefers  the  powdery  refuse 
from  lime  works,  which  costs  about  Id.  per  bushel,  and  which 
he  puts  down  about  2  inches  deep.  It  always  keeps  perfectly 
dry,  and  is  a  great  preventive  of  vermin ;  whilst  if  the  drop- 
pings are  taken  up  every  morning,  it  will  require  renewal 
very  rarely.  In  front  of  all  is  a  grass  run,  which  should 


VARIOUS   PLANS   FOR   BREEDING    YARDS.  C7 

extend  as  far  as  possible,  and  on  which  the  fowls  are  let  out 
in  turn  in  fine  weather. 

An  additional  story,  E,  may  or  may  not  be  constructed  over 
the  roosting-house,  and  in  case  of  emergency,  by  sprinkling  the 
eggs,  may  be  made  to  accommodate  sitting  hens ;  but  is  not  to 
be  preferred  for  that  purpose,  for  reasons  given  in  Chapter  IV. 
Every  poultry-keeper,  however,  knows  the  great  utility  of  such 
pens  on  various  occasions  which  continually  arise,  and  they 
will  be  found  excellent  accommodation  for  sick  or  injured 
fowls. 

In  Mr.  Lane's  establishment  hot- water  pipes  (a  a)  are  laid 
along  the  back  of  the  passage  floor,  by  which  the  tempera- 
ture is  at  all  seasons  kept  nearly  uniform.  This  may  or 
may  not  be  adopted;  and  it  will  also  be  obvious  that  the 
whole  arrangement  is  capable  of  enlargement  to  any  desired 
extent. 

Our  second  plan  is  of  totally  different  design,  and  repre- 
sents the  yard  of  R.  W.  Boyle,  Esq.,  of  Bray,  Co.  Wicklow, 
Ireland. 

In  this  design  A  A  are  roosts  and  enclosed  runs  adapted  for 
breeding  pens;  the  roosts  in  the  larger  pair  measuring  11 J 
feet  by  6J  feet,  with  a  run  extending  12  feet  in  front ;  in  the 
smaller,  the  houses  and  runs  are  only  8  feet  wide.  B  B  are 
houses  and  runs  adapted  to  receive  either  a  single  cock  or  pair 
of  hens,  and  C  C  are  still  smaller  for  the  same  purpose,  the 
roosts  in  the  latter  measuring  3  feet  by  4  feet,  and  the  open 
runs  4  feet  by  6  feet  9  inches.  Either  of  the  latter,  besides 
their  specific  purpose,  are  excellently  adapted  for  the  accom- 
modation of  a  couple  of  sitting  hens.  D  and  E  are  large  roosts 
or  houses,  which  may  be  used  to  receive  hens  with  their 
chickens,  or  for  water-fowl.  A  grass  plot,  F,  occupies  the 
central  portion  of  the  yard,  with  a  pond  for  the  water-fowl. 
The  parts  lettered  G  are  hard  gravel.  The  entrance  to  the 
whole  at  H  opens  upon  a  large  grass  run,  to  which  the  fowls 

F  2 


68  BREEDING   AND    EXHIBITION    OF   PRIZE   POULTRY. 


W 


c 

c 

c 

c 

c 

c 

c 

GRASS. 


SCALE   OF  FEET. 


B 


B 


10 


20 


30 
Fig.  13. 


50 


A  A  Roosts  and  Yards  for  Breeding  Fowls. 
BB  Roosts  and  Yards  for  single  Cocks  or 

two  Hens. 
CC  Ditto,  ditto. 


DE  Houses  without  Runs. 
F      Grass  Plot.         GG  Gravel  WalliS. 
H     Entrance  to  large  Grass  Run. 
W    Watercock. 


are  admitted  in  turn.     At  W  is  a  water- cock  for  the  general 
supply  of  the  yard. 

All  the  roosts  and  runs  in  Mr.  Boyle's  yard  are  well  covered 


ADVANTAGES    Of   A    GRASS    RUN.  69 

with  loose  sund,  which  is  raked  clean  every  morning ;  and  the 
large  grass  run  outside  is  furnished  with  a  long  shed  for  shelter, 
and  a  small  house  with  nests  for  such  hens  as  prefer  to  lay  there. 
Prize  poultry  may  be  also  reared  most  successfully,  and 
with  very  little  trouble  or  expense  in  accommodation,  in  a 
park  or  on  a  farm.  All  habitual  frequenters  of  shows  must 
have  observed  the  remarkable  constitution  exhibited  in  Lady 
Holmesdale's  poultry ;  and  we  paid,  by  invitation,  a  visit  to 
Linton  Park,  specially  to  learn  the  management  which  pro- 
duced such  excellent  results,  and  to  enjoy  a  chat  with  Mr.  J. 
Martin,  the  well-known  superintendent  of  the  Linton  poultry- 
yard.  We  found  the  system  most  simple,  and  to  all  who  have 
equal  space  at  command,  the  least  expensive  that  can  possibly 
be.  Stone  houses  with  gravelled  yards  there  certainly  are,  but 
these  were  unoccupied  by  a  single  one  of  the  Dorkings  for 
which  the  Viscountess  has  obtained  so  wide  a  reputation,  and  Mr. 
Martin  keeps  practically  the  whole  of  the  stock  at  perfect  liberty 
in  the  park.  Portable  wooden  houses  are  employed,  mounted 
on  small  wheels,  and  without  a  bottom,  which  are  placed  in 
sufficiently  distant  localities  to  avoid  any  danger  of  the  birds 
mixing,  and  moved  a  little  every  two  or  three  days.  Open 
windows  are  also  provided,  so  that  the  fowls  always  breathe 
the  pure  air  of  heaven,  and  certainly  with  much  more  freedom 
than  most  breeders  would  allow  to  such  delicate  varieties  as 
Spanish  and  Dorking  ;  yet  Mr.  Martin  finds  both  breeds 
become  hardy  under  such  treatment,  and  that  many  of  the 
Spanish  birds  prefer  to  roost  on  the  trees,  even  through  the 
winter.  The  hens  are  set  in  single  detached  coops,  roofed  on 
top,  and  closed  at  back  and  sides,  which  are  placed  in  any 
secluded  spots  amongst  the  trees.  Under  this  management  the 
chickens  are  reared  with  the  greatest  ease,  the  gloss  on  the 
plumage  is  exquisite,  and  its  closeness  approaches  that  of  the 
game  fowl ;  whilst  the  birds,  never  too  fat  for  the  highest 
health,  are  surprisingly  heavy  in  the  scales. 


70  BREEDING   AND   EXHIBITION   OF   PRIZE   POULTRY. 

A  similar  plan  may  be  pursued  on  a  farm  ;  a  number  of 
-wooden  portable  houses  being  provided,  and  placed  in  separate 
fields^  in  which  families  may  be  kept.  Such  a  system  will  be 
an  actual  benefit  to  the  soil,  and  the  only  drawback  is  the 
facility  it  affords  to  the  felonious  abstraction  of  valuable  eggs 
and  stock.  Still,  even  with  this  objection,  we  must  pronounce 
such  a  natural  method  of  rearing  far  the  best  where  it  can  be 
adopted,  which  is,  however,  in  very  few  instances ;  for  farmers 
are  only  seldom  poultry-fanciers,  and  usually  look  upon  even 
ordinary  fowls  as  an  unprofitable  drain  upon  their  purses, 
though  it  is  certainly  their  own  fault  if  it  is  so. 

The  intending  prize-winner  must,  of  course,  adapt  the  plan 
of  his  yard  to  his  own  circumstances  and  situation.  We  have 
now  given  ample  materials  to  furnish  a  design  of  any  possible 
character.  The  one  necessity  in  this  class  of  poultry-keeping 
is  some  facility  for  what  may  be  called  separation  or  selection, 
combined,  of  course,  with  a  healthy  run  for  the  chickens  whilst 
young,  and  the  essentials  mentioned  in  the  first  chapter.  If 
these  can  be  secured,  any  design,  with  care  and  attention,  and 
good  breeding  stock,  will  ensure  a  fair  measure  of  success. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

ON  THE  SCIENTIFIC  PRINCIPLES  OF  BREEDING,  AND  THE  EFFECTS 
OF  CROSSING. 

To  obtain  any  marked  success  in  Poultry  Exhibition  it  is  very 
necessary  that  the  scientific  theory  of  breeding  for  any  specific 
object  should  be  thoroughly  understood — at  least,  if  anything 
like  general  eminence  be  expected;  and  still  more  so  if  the 
fancier  desires  by  his  own  exertions  to  render  any  special 
service  by  the  addition  of  new  varieties,  or  the  improvement  of 
the  old.  Distinction  in  any  one  single  breed  is  not  so  difficult 


IMPORTANCE   OF   SCIENTIFIC   KNOWLEDGE.  71 

to  obtain  ;  but  he  is  a  poor  poultry-breeder  who  is  content  to 
let  his  favourite  variety  remain  exactly  as  he  found  it,  without 
at  least  some  attempt  to  improve  it  either  in  beauty  or  in 
economic  value ;  and  any  such  attempt,  to  be  successful,  must 
be  directed  by  an  intelligent  mind,  which  sees  definitely  before 
it  the  result  to  be  attained. 

In  knowledge  and  enterprise  of  this  description  we  cannot 
but  confess  that  English  fanciers  are  behind  their  Continental 
brethren ;  and  the  fact  is  the  more  to  be  regretted  since  the 
poultry  "fancy"  is  far  more  universal  in  this  country,  and 
much  more  time  and  money  spent  in  its  pursuit  Were  breed- 
ing more  scientifically  studied,  no  one  can  say  what  results 
British  enthusiasm  and  perseverance  might  not  eventually  pro- 
duce ;  whilst  as  it  is,  from  ignorance  of  the  subject,  we  believe 
one  breed  at  least  (white-faced  Spanish)  to  have  been  nearly 
mined.  The  elements  of  success  are  moreover  so  very  few  and 
simple,  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  them  so  quickly  acquired 
and  so  easily  applied,  that  we  shall  devote  a  few  pages  to  this 
part  of  the  subject  before  entering  upon  the  more  practical 
portion  of  this  section. 

The  greatest  misapprehension  appears  to  exist  amongst  all 
but  the  most  educated  poultry-fanciers  respecting  the  origin  of 
different  breeds.  People  seem  to  imagine  that  they  have  come 
down  to  us,  or  at  least  a  number  of  them,  in  unbroken  descent 
from  far-back  ages ;  and  this  belief  has  given  rise  to  innume- 
rable discussions  concerning  the  purity  or  otherwise  of  different 
varieties,  which  might  have  been  spared  had  the  disputants 
comprehended  the  real  nature  of  the  case.  We  cannot  do 
better  here  than  give  some  able  remarks  which  appeared  some 
time  since  in  The  Field  ;  and  which  deserve  to  be  well  studied, 
for  they  contain  the  first  principles  of  the  whole  science  of 
breeding  : — 

"  Such  questions  as  the  following  are  constantly  asked, — 
*  Are  the  Brahmas  a  pure  breed  ?  are  black  Hamburghs  a  pure 


72  BREEDING   AND   EXHIBITION   OF   PRIZE   POULTRY. 

breed  ? '  (fee.,  &c.  Those  queries  obviously  owe  their  origin  to 
a  confusion  of  the  distinction  that  exists  between  different 
animals,  and  between  different  varieties  of  the  same  animal. 
Let  us  illustrate  our  meaning  by  an  example. 

"  A  hare  is  a  pure-bred  animal,  because  it  is  totally  distinct 
from  all  other  animals,  or,  as  naturalists  say,  it  constitutes  a 
distinct  species.  It  does  not  breed  with  other  animals,  for  the 
so-called  leporines  are  only  large  rabbits  ;  and  if  it  did,  the  off- 
spring would  be  a  hybrid  or  mule,  and  almost  certainly  sterile 
or  incapable  of  breeding.  In  the  same  manner  the  common 
wild  rabbit  is  a  pure  breed.  This  animal  possesses  the  capa- 
bility of  being  domesticated,  and  under  the  new  circumstances 
in  which  it  is  placed,  it  varies  in  size,  form,  and  colour  from 
the  original  stock.  By  careful  selection  of  these  variations, 
and  by  breeding  from  those  individuals  which  show  most 
strongly  the  points  or  qualities  desired,  certain  varieties,  or  as 
they  are  termed  t breeds'  of  rabbits,  are  produced  and  per- 
petuated. Thus  we  have  the  lop-eared  breed,  the  Angora  breed-, 
the  Chinchilla  breed,  &c.  &c.,  characterised  by  alterations  in  the 
length  of  the  ears,  in  the  colour  of  the  fur,  in  the  size  of  the 
animals,  and  so  on.  It  is  obvious  that,  by  care,  more  new 
varieties  may  be  produced  and  perpetuated.  Thus,  by  mating 
silver  greys  of  different  depths  of  colour,  white  animals  with 
black  extremities  are  often  produced,  and  these  have  been 
perpetuated  by  mating  them  together.  The  breed  so  produced  is 
known  as  the  Himalayan  variety,  and,  as  it  reproduces  its  like, 
is  as  pure  and  distinct  a  breed  as  any  other  that  can  be  named. 

"  But,  in  the  strictest  scientific  sense  of  the  word,  no  par- 
ticular variety  of  rabbit  can  be  said  to  be  a  pure  breed,  as,  like 
all  the  others,  it  is  descended  from  the  wild  original.  In  the 
same  manner  we  may  deny  applicability  of  the  term  pure  breed 
to  the  varieties  of  any  domesticated  animal,  even  if,  as  in  the? 
case  of  the  dog  or  sheep,  we  do  not  know  the  original  from 
which  they  descended. 


ORIGIN   OF    BREEDS.  73 

"All  that  can  be  asserted  of  the  so-called  purest-bred, 
variety  is  that  it  has  been  reared  for  a  number  of  years  01- 
generations  without  a  cross  with  any  other  variety.  But  it 
should  be  remembered  that  eveiy  variety  has  been  reared  by 
careful  artificial  selection,  either  from  the  original  stock  or 
from  other  varieties. 

"In  the  strict  sense  of  the  word,  then,  there  is  no  such 
thing  as  an  absolutely  pure  breed — the  term  is  only  compara- 
tively true.  We  may  term  the  Spanish  fowl  of  pure  breed, 
because  it  has  existed  a  long  period,  and  obviously  could  not 
be  improved  by  crossing  with  any  other  known  variety;  in 
fact,  its  origin  as  a  variety  is  not  known.  But  many  of  our 
domesticated  birds  have  a  much  more  recent  origin.  Where 
were  game  bantams  fifty  years  ago  ?  The  variety  did  not 
exist.  They  have  been  made  by  two  modes  :  breeding  game 
to  reduce  the  size,  and  then  crossing  the  small  game  fowl  so 
obtained  with  bantams.  Yet  game  bantams,  as  at  present 
shown,  have  quite  as  good  a  title  to  a  pure  breed  as  any  other 
variety.  In  fact,  eveiy  variety  may  be  called  a  pure  breed 
that  reproduces  its  own  likeness  true  to  form  and  colour. 

"  The  statement  that  Brahmas,  Black  Hamburghs,  Dorkings, 
<fcc.,  are  pure  breeds  is  meaningless,  if  it  is  intended  to  imply 
anything  more  than  that  they  will  reproduce  their  like,  which  a 
mongrel  cross  between  two  distinct  varieties  cannot  be  depended 
on  doing.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  many  of  our  varieties  have 
been  improved  by  crossing  with  others.  The  cross  of  the  bull- 
dog thrown  in  and  bred  out  again  has  given  stamina  to  the 
greyhound;  and  although  generally  denied,  there  is  no  doubt 
but  that  the  Cochin  has  in  many  cases  been  employed  to  give 
size  to  tiie  Dorking.  In  the  same  manner  new  permanent 
varieties  of  pigeons  are  often  produced,  generally  coming  to  us 
from  Germany,  in  which  country  the  fanciers  are  much  more 
experimental  than  in  England,  where  they  adhere  to  the  old 
breeds  with  a  true  John  Bull  tenacity." 


74  BHEEDIXG   AXD   EXHIBITION   OF  PRIZE   POULTRY. 

Applying  the  above  scientific  and  lucid  remarks  to  the  sub- 
ject under  discussion,  it  is  now  universally  admitted  by  all  who 
have  studied  the  matter  that  every  variety  of  the  domestic  fowl 
has  originated  in  a  wild  bird  still  existing — the  common  Jungle 
Fowl  of  India,  known  to  naturalists  as  the  Gallus  Bankiva  of 
Temminck,  or  Gallus  ferrugineus  of  Gmelin.  To  describe  this 
bird  minutely  is  unnecessary ;  it  will  be  enough  to  say  that, 
except  in  the  tail  of  the  cock  being  more  depressed,  it  resembles 
very  closely  the  variety  known  as  Black-breasted  Red  Game. 
The  assertion  that  all  our  modern  breeds  should  be  derived 
from  this  fowl  may  seem  at  first  sight  a  large  demand  on  our 
credulity ;  but  such  a  fact  is  not  mere  wonderful  than  that  a 
cart-horse  should  have  descended  from  the  same  original  stock 
as  the  Arabian,  or  that  an  Italian  greyhound  and  a  2>Tewfound- 
land  should  have  common  progenitors,  about  which  no  natu- 
ralist has  the  slightest  doubt.  The  process  is  simple,  and 
easily  understood.  Even  in  the  wild  state  the  original  breed 
will  show  some  amount  of  variation  in  colour,  form,  and  size ; 
whilst  in  domestication  the  tendency  to  change,  as  every  one 
knows,  is  very  much  increased.  By  breeding  from  birds  which 
show  any  marked  feature,  stock  is  obtained  of  which  a  portion 
will  possess  that  feature  in  an  increased  degree ;  and  by  again 
selecting  the  best  specimens,  the  special  points  sought  may  be 
developed  to  almost  any  degree  required. 

A  good  example  of  such  a  process  of  development  may  be 
seen  in  the  "white  face"  so  conspicuous  in  the  Spanish  breed. 
White  ears  will  be  observed  occasionally  in  all  fowls ;  even  in 
such  breeds  as  Cochins  or  Brahrnas,  where  white  ear-lobes  are 
considered  almost  fatal  blemishes,  they  continually  occur,  and 
by  selecting  only  white-eared  specimens  to  breed  from,  they 
might  be  speedily  fixed  in  any  variety  as  one  of  the  charac- 
teristics. A  large  pendent  white  ear-lobe  once  firmly  established, 
traces  of  the  white  face  will  now  and  then  be  found,  and  by 
a  similar  method  is  capable  of  development  and  fixture ;  whilst 


EFFECTS   OF   SELECTION.  75 

any  colour  of  plumage  or  of  leg  may  be  obtained  nncl  established 
in  the  same  way.  The  original  amount  of  character  required 
is  very  slight ;  a  single  hen-tailed  cock  will  be  enough  to  give 
that  characteristic  to  a  whole  breed ;  and  the  two  laced  pullets 
mentioned  under  the  head  of  Brahmas  in  the  next  Section 
would  be  quite  enough,  in  skilful  hands,  to  lay  the  foundation 
of  a  new  and  beautiful  variety. 

Any  peculiarity  of  constitution,  such  as  constant  laying, 
or  frequent  incubation,  may  be  developed  and  perpetuated 
in  a  similar  manner,  all  that  is  necessary  being  care  and 
time. 

That  such  has  been  the  method  employed  in  the  formation 
of  the  more  distinct  races  of  our  poultry,  is  proved  by  the  fact 
that  a  continuance  of  the  same  careful  selection  is  needful  to 
perpetuate  them  in  perfection.  If  the  very  best  examples  of  a 
breed  are  selected  as  the  starting  point,  and  the  produce  is  bred 
from  indiscriminately  for  many  generations,  the  distinctive 
points,  whatever  they  are,  rapidly  decline,  and  there  is  also  a 
more  or  less  gradual  but  sure  return  to  the  primitive  wild  type, 
in  size  and  even  colour  of  the  plumage.  The  purest  black  or 
white  originally,  rapidly  becomes  first  marked  with,  and  ulti- 
mately changed  into  the  original  red  or  brown,  whilst  the  other 
features  simultaneously  disappear. 

If,  however,  the  process  of  artificial  selection  be  carried  too 
far,  and  with  reference  only  to  one  prominent  point,  any  breed 
is  almost  sure  to  suffer  in  the  other  qualities  which  have  been 
neglected,  and  this  has  been  the  case  with  the  very  breed 
already  mentioned — the  white-faced  Spanish.  We  know  from 
old  fanciers  that  this  breed  was  formerly  considered  hardy,  and 
even  in  winter  rarely  failed  to  afford  a  constant  supply  of  its 
unequalled  large  white  eggs.  But  of  late  years  attention  has 
been  so  exclusively  directed  to  the  "white  face,"  that  whilst 
this  feature  has  been  developed  and  perfected  to  a  degree  never 
before  known,  the  breed  has  become  one  of  the  most  delicate 


76  BREEDING    AND    EXHIBITION    OF    PRIZE    POULTRY. 

of  all,  and  the  laying  qualities  of  at  least  many  strains  have 
greatly  fallen  off. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  avoid  such  evil  results  if  it  were  not 
for  a  valuable  compensating  principle,  which  admits  of  crossing. 
That  principle  is,  that  any  desired  point  possessed  in  perfection 
by  a  foreign  breed,  may  be  introduced  by  crossing  into  a  strain 
it  is  desired  to  improve,  and  every  other  characteristic  of  the 
cross  be,  by  selection,  afterwards  bred  out  again.  Or  one  or 
more  of  these  additional  characteristics  may  be  also  retained, 
and  thus  a  new  variety  be  established,  as  many  have  been 
within  the  last  few  years. 

A  thorough  understanding  of  both  the  foregoing  principles 
is  so  important,  that  we  shall  endeavour  to  illustrate  each  by 
examples. 

Without  foundation  by  long-continued  selection  no  strain 
can  be  depended  on.  For  instance — the  Grey  Dorking  is  a 
breed  which  assumes  within  certain  limits  almost  any  variety 
of  colour,  and  occasionally,  amongst  others,  that  now  known  as- 
"silver-grey."  By  breeding  from  these  birds,  and  selecting 
from  the  progeny  only  the  silver-greys,  that  colour  has  been 
established,  like  any  other  might  be,  as  a  permanent  variety, 
which  breeds  true  to  feather  with  very  little  variation.  Now 
a  pen  of  birds  precisely  similar  in  colour  and  appearance  may, 
as  at  first,  be  produced  from  ordinary  coloured  Dorkings,  and 
shown  as  silver-greys;  and  the  most  severe  test  may  fail  to  dis- 
cover any  apparent  difference  between  them  and  the  purest- 
bred  pen  in  the  same  show.  But  breeding  would  show  the 
distinction  instantly :  whilst  one  pen  would  breed  true  to  itself, 
and  produce  silver-grey  chickens,  the  accidental  pen  would 
chiefly  produce  ordinary  Dorkings,  with  very  few  silver-greys 
amongst  them  ;  and  though  in  time,  by  continuing  to  select 
these,  a  pure  strain  would  ultimately  be  established,  for  imme- 
diate purposes  the  pen,  as  silvers,  would  be  worthless.  We 
know  this  to  have  been  the  case,  to  the  great  disappointment 


RESULTS   OF   CROSSING.  77 

of  purchasers.  Conversely,  even  well-established  silver-grey 
Dorkings,  if  bred  from  indiscriminately,  will,  by  degrees,  lose 
their  distinctive  colour,  and  go  back  to  the  ordinary  grey  stock 
Irom  which  they  first  sprang. 

The  coloured  Dorking  also  exhibits  very  plainly  the  opera- 
tion of  crossing.  It  is  evidently  the  produce  of  a  cross  between 
the  original  white  Dorking  and  the  large  coloured  Surrey  fowl, 
as  is  proved  by  the  fact  that  whilst  the  white  Dorking — long 
established — invariably  bred  the  fifth  toe  as  its  distinguishing 
characteristic,  the  coloured  variety  was  for  many  years  most 
uncertain  in  that  respect.  Still  the  fifth  toe  was  introduced, 
along  with  the  shape  and  aptitude  to  fatten  ;  and  by  careful 
selection  the  colour  and  size  of  the  Surrey  fowl  have  been 
retained,  whilst  the  tendency  to  only  one  toe  behind,  introduced 
by  the  cross,  has  been  effectually  eradicated,  and  the  grey  Dor- 
king now  breeds  in  this  particular  as  true  as  the  white. 

The  same  fowl  has  been  undeniably  crossed  with  the 
Cochin  in  order  to  gain  size,  which  has  been  retained  to  the 
great  benefit  of  the  breed,  whilst  all  disposition  to  feather  on 
the  legs  has  been  entirely  bred  out  again.  Game,  again,  has 
been  repeatedly  introduced  into  Dorking  strains  in  order  to 
gain  constitution. 

In  the  same  way,  when  a  race  of  Game  fowls  has  been 
reduced  in  size,  strength,  and  ferocity,  by  long  interbreeding 
through  fear  of  injuring  the  strain,  a  cross  of  the  large,  strong, 
and  ferocious  Malay  at  once  restores  the  defective  points,  whilst 
all  evidences  of  it  are  removed  in  three  or  four  generations. 

Perhaps,  however,  the  most  "  artfully  contrived  "  bird,  and 
the  best  example  of  both  principles  combined,  is  to  be  found  in 
the  well-known  laced  Bantams  of  Sir  John  Sebright.  This 
breed  was  founded  by  crossing  the  old  Nankin  Bantam  with 
Polish  fowls  whose  markings  had  a  well-defined  laced  character. 
Lacing  was  thus  imported  into  the  Bantam  breed,  and  by 
careful  selection  was  developed  and  rendered  perfect,  whilst  by 


78  BREEDING   AND   EXHIBITION   OF    PRIZE    POULTRY. 

the  same  process  the  Polish  crest  was  effectually  banished. 
This  much  being  already  accomplished,  as  we  are  informed  by 
his  son,*  a  hen-tailed  Bantam  cock  accidentally  met  with 
struck  Sir  John's  fancy,  and  added  that  peculiarity  to  the 
strain,  which  has  now  been  for  many  years  firmly  established y 
and  breeds  as  true  as  any,  though  so  extremely  artificial  in  its- 
original  "  construction." 

The  last  example  we  shall  mention  is  the  breed  known  as 
Black  Hamburghs,  which  has  been  "  made"  within  the  last  few 
years.  That  it  has  been  obtained  by  crossing  the  Hamburg 
with  the  Spanish  is  proved  sometimes  too  plainly  by  the  evident 
traces  of"  white  face"  still  lingering  even  in  prize  specimens;  but 
the  evidence  of  the  cross  will  soon  by  selection  be  entirely  bred 
out,  and  the  breed  has  already  made  good  its  claim  to  a  distinct 
class  at  most  shows.  The  advantages  gained  by  the  cross  are 
great.  The  size  of  the  bird  has  been  increased,  and  we  have 
the  enormous  egg-producing  powers  of  the  Hamburgh  race 
with  a  larger  egg,  thus  doing  away  with  the  weak  point  of  that 
beautiful  breed. 

But,  it  may  be  said,  if  these  principles  are  correct,  it  would 
follow  that  the  power  of  the  breeder  is  almost  unlimited. 
And  practically  it  is  so  :  there  are  within  certain  limits  hardly 
any  bounds  to  what  may  be  effected  by  the  scientific  experi- 
mentalist. That  so  little  has  been  done  is  mainly  because  the 
principles  themselves  have  been  so  little  understood,  and  most 
fanciers  have  been  content  to  go  on  with  the  established  varieties 
as  they  are,  without  any  attempt  to  modify  or  improve  them. 
There  is  another  reason  in  the  utter  want  of  attention  in  this 
country  to  anything  but  colour  of  plumage  and  other  "  fancy" 
characteristics;  and  we  cannot  but  think  that  our  Poultry 
Shows  have  to  some  extent,  by  the  character  of  the  judging, 
hindered  the  improvement  of  many  breeds.  It  will  be  readily 

*  It  is  only  right  to  say  that  for  these  facts  respecting  the  Sebright 
Bantams  -vre  are  indebted  to  "  The  Poultry  Book." 


UTILITY   TO   BE   STUDIED.  70 

admitted  in  theory  that  a  breed  of  fowls  becomes  more  and  more 
valuable  as  its  capacity  of  producing  eggs  is  increased,  and  the 
quantity  and  quality  of  its  flesh  are  improved,  with  a  small 
amount  of  bone  and  offal  in  proportion.  But,  if  we  except  the 
Dorking,  which  certainly  is  judged  to  some  extent  as  a  table 
fowl,  all  this  is  totally  lost  sight  of  both  by  breeders  and 
judges,  and  attention  is  fixed  exclusively  upon  colour,  comb, 
face,  and  other  equally  fancy  "  points." 

We  cannot  but  deeply  regret  this.  We  have  shown  how 
readily  beauty  and  utility  might  be  both  secured  ;  and  we  do 
earnestly  hope  that  even  these  pages  may  have  some  effect  in 
stirring  up  our  poultry-fanciers  to  the  improvement  in  real 
value,  without  by  any  means  neglecting  the  beauty,  of  their 
favourite  breeds.  The  French  have  taught  us  a  lesson  of 
some  value  in  this  respect.  Within  a  comparatively  recent 
period  they  have  produced,  by  crossing  and  selection,  four  new 
varieties,  which,  although  inferior  in  some  points  to  others  of 
older  standing,  are  all  eminently  valuable  as  table-fowls ;  and 
which  in  one  particular  are  superior  to  any  English  variety, 
not  even  excepting  the  Dorking — we  mean  the  very  small 
proportion  of  bone  and  offal.  This  is  really  useful  and  scientific 
breeding,  brought  to  bear  upon  one  definite  object,  and  we  do 
trust  the  result  will  prove  suggestive  with  regard  to  others 
equally  valuable. 

We  should  be  afraid  to  say  how  much  might  be  done  if 
English  breeders  would  bring  their  perseverance  and  experi- 
ence to  bear  in  a  similar  direction.  We  have  not,  however, 
the  slightest  doubt  that  a  breed  of  any  desired  colour  might  in 
a  few  years  be  produced,  combining  the  Dorking  quality  of 
flesh  with  the  prolificacy  and  hardihood  of  the  Brahma,  of 
which  the  cocks  should  weigh  201bs.,  and  the  hens  151bs.  each. 
Mimy  will  question  this  :  we  simply  say,  that  no  one  has  yet 
attempted  it,  and  that  no  one  will  doubt  its  possibility  who 
knows  the  weights  which  hare  been  occasionally  attained  in 


80  BREEDING    AND    EXHIBITION    OF    PRIZE    POULTRY. 

some  of  our  largest  breeds,  and  who  has  examined  carefully 
into  the  effects  already  produced  by  judicious  selection  and 
crossing.  But  to  obtain  such  a  result,  it  must  be  systematically 
sought,  and  this  will  never  be  till  the  seeking  is  systematically 
encouraged  by  committees  and  judges. 

In  what  way  this  could  best  be  done,  it  is  scarcely  our 
province  to  decide;  we  shall  be  only  too  satisfied  if  our 
remarks  be  in  any  degree  the  means  of  directing  attention  to 
the  importance  of  the  subject.  We  believe,  however,  that  a 
special  prize  of  some  value,  announced  annually,  for  award  to 
the  best  pen,  either  of  any  known  or  new  breed,  for  economic 
purposes,  would  shortly  produce  fowls,  well  established  as  a 
variety,  that  would  astonish  many  old  poultry-fanciers.  Agri- 
cultural Societies  in  particular  might  be  expected  in  their 
exhibitions  to  show  some  interest  in  the  improvement  of 
poultry  regarded  as  useful  stock,  and  to  them  especially  we 
commend  the  matter. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

ON  THE  PRACTICAL  SELECTION  AND  CARE  OF  BREEDING  STOCK,  AND 
THE  REARING  OF  CHICKENS  FOR  EXHIBITION. 

WE  have  in  the  last  chapter  treated  of  the  more  theoretical 
principles  which  the  breeder  may  employ  in  the  accomplishment 
of  any  desired  end;  we  have  now  to  consider  those  practical 
points  which  the  poultry-keeper  must  keep  in  mind  if  he  desires 
to  attain  success  in  competition. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  there  is  nothing  so  unprofitable  as  to 
commence  "poultry-fancying"  with  inferior  fowls  ;  and  as  there 
are  always  numbers  of  unscrupulous  individuals  who  endeavour 
to  impose  upon  the  unwary,  special  caution  is  needed  in  the 
purchase  of  the  original  stock.  If  the  reader  be  inexperienced, 
tie  should,  if  it  be  possible,  secure  the  assistance  of  some  friend 


BEST  AGE  TO  BREED  FROM.  81 

upon  whose  judgment  lie  can  thoroughly  rely ;  failing  this,  he 
should  endeavour,  not  only  by  studying  the  descriptions,  but  by 
frequenting  good  shows,  and  seeing  and  comparing  the  live 
birds  themselves,  to  become  acquainted  with  at  least  the  main 
points  of  the  breed  to  which  his  preference  inclines.  To  buy  of 
unknown  advertisers  is  always  a  great  risk,  and  it  will  generally 
be  found  more  economical  in  the  long  run  to  apply,  in  the  first 
place,  to  known  and  eminent  exhibitors,  whose  character  stands 
too  high  to  admit  the  suspicion  of  any  wilful  deception.  Such 
breeders,  it  is  true,  will  generally  demand  high  prices  for  really 
good  stock ;  but  then  the  stock  will  be  good,  which  is  by  far 
the  most  important  point.  Birds  may  also  be  purchased  at 
shows  ;  but  in  this  case,  if  it  is  intended  to  breed  from  a  single 
pen,  it  should  be  ascertained  whether  or  not  the  cock  is  related 
to  his  hens,  and  if  so,  he  should  be  exchanged  for  one  of  another 
family.  In  any  case,  the  greatest  care  should  be  taken  that  the 
birds  chosen  are  of  pure  race  ;  it  should  be  remembered  that 
mere  appearance  is  not  always  sufficient,  as  we  have  shown  in 
the  last  chapter ;  and  it  is  therefore  most  desirable  to  know 
the  pedigree  also. 

At  the  very  outset  the  question  occurs,  What  is  the  best 
age  to  breed  from  ?  and  we  have  no  hesitation  in  replying  that, 
according  to  the  testimony  of  nearly  all  the  best  authorities,  it 
is  better  the  ages  of  the  cock  and  hens  should  vary.  It  seems 
also  generally  admitted  that  the  strongest  and  best  chickens  are 
produced  from  a  cockerel  nearly  a  year  old  mated  with  hens 
twelve  months  older ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  chickens  of  such 
parents  invariably  have  a  large  proportion  of  cocks,  and  most 
breeders  therefore  prefer  a  two-year-old  cock  with  well-grown 
pullets  not  less  than  nine  months  in  age.  It  must  not,  however, 
be  supposed  that  either  rule  is  imperative,  or  that  good  chickens 
are  not  to  be  expected  from  birds  all  hatched  about  the  same 
time.  In  this  case,  however,  it  is  advisable  that  all  the 
fowls  should  be  fully  twelve  months  old;  if  younger,  the 


82  BREEDING   AND   EXHIBITION    OF   PRIZE   POULTRY. 

chickens  are  usually  backward  in  fledging.  Fowls  are  good  for 
breeding  up  to  the  age  of  four  years,  but  are  of  little  value 
afterwards. 

To  avoid  any  near  relationship  is  most  important;  but 
many  woi'ks  have  laid  far  too  much  stress  upon  the  necessity  of 
continually  introducing  what  they  call  "fresh  blood."  It  is 
certainly  most  destructive  to  breed  from  members  of  the  same 
family,  and  to  go  on  promiscuously  interbreeding  in  one  yard 
is  still  worse ;  but  if  there  be  a  number  of  separate  runs,  in 
which  separate  races  can  be  reared,  operations  may  be  carried 
on  for  many  successive  years  without  a  cross  from  any  other 
yard.  It  is  the  more  necessary  to  explain  this,  because  when 
any  strain  has  been  brought  to  high  excellence,  the  introduction 
of  a  bird  from  another  is  a  very  serious  thing,  and  we  have 
personally  known,  in  more  than  one  instance,  to  ruin  the  pro- 
duce of  a  whole  year. 

The  plan  to  be  adopted  is  to  note  down  most  carefully  the 
parentage  of  every  brood,  and  to  keep  the  chickens  from  one 
family  together  until  they  are  required.  The  breeding-yards 
for  next  year  are  then  to  be  made  up  from  the  best  specimens, 
taking  care  not  only  that  the  cocks  and  hens  are  not  related 
inter  se,  but  that  two  runs  at  least  are  thus  made  up  without 
any  fraternal  relationship  between  them.  Unrelated  chickens 
will  thus  be  secured  for  next  year  also  ;  and  so  the  system  can 
be  carried  on.  It  is  also  a  good  plan,  where  it  can  be  adopted, 
to  put  a  promising  young  cockerel  out  to  "  walk "  at  a  farm, 
or  in  some  brother  fancier's  yard,  and  bring  him  back  in 
a  year  or  two,  when  the  relationship  between  him  and  the 
pullets  of  the  year  will  be  too  remote  to  be  of  very  much 
consequence. 

If  a  bird  is  occasionally  introduced  from  another  strain — 
and  it  certainly  is  advisable  now  and  then,  especially  in  the 
case  of  Dorkings — we  can  only  say  that  the  extremest  care 
be  taken  to  ensure  he  is  of  good  pedigree,  as  well  as  a 


SELECTION    OF  THE    i-ARENTS.  83 

perfect  specimen  in  outward  appearance  of  the  breed  to  which 
he  belongs. 

Long  experience  has  ascertained  that  the  male  bird  has 
most  influence  upon  the  colour  of  the  progeny,  and  also  upon 
the  comb,  and  what  may  be  called  the  "  fancy  points,"  of  any 
breed  generally ;  whilst  the  form,  size,  and  useful  qualities  are 
principally  derived  from  the  hen.  Now  it  cannot  be  denied 
that  it  is  desirable  to  secure  absolutely  perfect  birds  in  all 
respects  of  both  sexes  if  possible ;  but  alas  !  every  amateur 
knows  too  well  the  great  scarcity  of  such,  and  the  above  fact 
therefore  becomes  of  great  importance  in  selecting  a  breeding- 
pen.  For  instance,  a  cock  may  have  been  hatched  late  in  the 
year,  and  therefore  be  decidedly  under  the  proper  standard  in 
point  of  size,  and  inferior  for  a  show  pen ;  but  if  his  colour, 
plumage,  comb,  and  other  points — whatever  they  may  be — are 
perfect,  and  he  be  active  and  lively,  he  may  make  a  first-class 
bird  for  breeding  when  mated  with  goorl  hens.  A  hen,  again, 
if  of  large  size  and  good  shape,  is  not  to  be  hastily  condemned 
for  a  faulty  feather  or  two,  or  even  for  a  defective  comb,  if  not 
too  glaringly  apparent — though  the  last  fault  is  a  serious  one  in 
either  sex.  But  a  very  bad  coloured  or  faulty-combed  cock, 
however  excellent  in  point  of  size,  or  a  very  small  or  ill-shaped 
hen,  however  exquisite  in  regard  to  colour,  will  invariably 
produce  chickens  of  a  very  indifferent  order. 

It  is  also  to  be  observed,  with  regard  to  the  crosssing  of  a 
breed,  that  the  cockerels  in  the  progeny  will  more  or  less  re- 
semble the  father,  whilst  the  pullets  follow  the  mother.  A 
knowledge  of  this  fact  will  save  much  time  in  "breeding 
back"  to  the  original  strain,  and  much  disappointment  in  the 
effect  of  the  cross.  For  instance,  if  it  be  desired  to  increase 
size,  a  cross  with  a  hen  of  foreign  breed  should  be  employed, 
and  the  same  if  it  be  sought  to  introduce  a  more  prominent 
breast,  or  any  other  peculiarity  of  shape ;  but  if  it  is  the 
plumage  which  is  to  be  modified,  it  is  the  male  bird  who 

G  2 


84  BREEDING   AND    EXHIBITION   OF   PRIZE    POULTRY. 

should  be  thrown  in.  In  breeding  the  cross  out  again,  or  in 
retaining  any  new  characteristic,  so  as  to  form  a  fresh  variety, 
the  same  rule  must  be  kept  in  mind. 

We  believe  that  much  disappointment  and  uncertainty  in 
the  results  of  crossing  has  been  owing  to  a  neglect  or  ignorance 
of  this  simple  principle,  and  breeding  from  either  sex  in- 
differently. If  this  be  done,  the  result  will  often  be  worthless, 
and  in  every  case  the  time  consumed  will  be  much  greater  than 
is  necessary ;  but  if  scientifically  conducted,  we  believe  crossing 
would  improve  many  of  our  older  breeds  in  size,  hardihood,  and 
utility,  without  in  any  measure  detracting  from  those  qualities 
for  which  they  are  valued. 

The  care  and  preservation  in  good  condition  of  valuable 
fowls  is  an  important  point.  With  regard  to  mere  health, 
nothing  can  be  added  to  what  has  already  been  treated  of  in 
the  preceding  section.  But  it  frequently  happens  that,  on 
account  of  the  high  price,  only  a  single  pen  of  three  first-class 
birds  can  be  afforded ;  and  if  such  a  family  be  penned  up  by 
itself,  the  frequent  attentions  of  the  cock  will  soon  render  the 
hens  unfit  for  exhibition,  whilst  the  birds  may  also  mope,  for 
want  of  more  companionship.  To  avoid  this,  a  couple  more  of 
ordinary  hens  should  be  added,  taking  care  that  the  eggs  be  of 
a  different  colour,  or  otherwise  easily  distinguished  from  those 
of  the  breeding-pen  itself.  The  plumage  of  the  hens  or  pullets 
will  then  be  preserved,  without  injuring  the  character  of  the 
progeny.  We  should,  however,  prefer  mating  the  cock  with 
four  good  hens  of  his  own  breed, — a  plan  more  really  econo- 
mical, as  the  cost  of  the  cock,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
eggs  for  sitting,  is  thereby  reduced. 

The  number  of  hens,  if  good  size  and  vigour  are  desired, 
should  not  exceed  four.  Many  breeders  allow  six ;  but  the 
finest  fowls  of  the  larger  kinds  are  bred  from  the  proportion 
we  have  stated. 

It  is  desirable  also,  as  much  as  possible,  to  save  the  hens  frorn 


FAILURES    IX    PRIZE    EGGS.  85 

the  wear  and  tear  of  chickens,  which  often  injure  the  plumage 
greatly.  It  will  not  answer  to  prevent  them  sitting  altogether  • 
we  have  already  remarked  that  such  a  procedure  often  causes 
them  to  suffer  in  moulting,  which  should  not  be  risked. 
Neither  do  we  altogether  approve  of  the  plan  followed  by 
many,  of  allowing  them  to  hatch,  and  then  giving  the  chickens 
to  other  hens.  This  may  be  done,  if  necessary,  but  a  better 
system,  where  there  is  convenience  for  it,  is  to  set  a  valuable 
hen  upon  duck  eggs.  The  ducklings  will  not  only  resort  to 
the  hen  to  be  brooded  much  less  frequently  than  chickens,  but 
will  be  far  earlier  independent  of  her  care,  and  leave  her 
in  much  better  condition  than  if  she  had  hatched  her  own 
eggs. 

With  regard  to  hatching,  it  is  desirable  with  the  hardier 
breeds  to  get  the  eggs  under  the  hen  as  soon  after  January  as 
a  sitter  can  be  obtained,  in  order  that  the  brood  may  have  all 
the  year  to  grow  in,  and  be  ready  for  the  earlier  shows- 
At  this  season,  however,  the  limitation  as  to  number,  men- 
tioned in  Chapter  IV.,  must  be  strictly  enforced,  and  no  hen 
given  more  than  seven  or  eight  eggs,  six  chickens  being  as 
many  as  are  desirable,  in  order  that  they  may  be  well  covered 
by  the  hen  when  partly  grown,  which  is  their  most  critical 
period  as  exhibition  fowls.  Spanish,  Dorkings,  or  other  deli- 
cate breeds,  should  not  be  hatched  till  April  or  May,  unless 
unusually  good  shelter  is  at  command. 

As  eggs  are  often  purchased  for  hatching,  it  is  necessary  to 
allude  to  the  frequent  disappointments  experienced  in  this 
respect,  and  which  are  far  too  frequently  attributed,  in  no 
measured  terms,  to  fraud  on  the  part  of  the  seller.  Now  we 
certainly  cannot  deny  that  such  fraud  is  only  too  common.  We 
know  of  one  case  where  the  fact  was  put  beyond  a  doubt  by 
examination,  proving  that  the  eggs  purchased  from  a  well- 
known  exhibitor  were  actually  boiled ;  but  we  honestly  believe 
that  the  great  majority  of  breeders  would  scorn  such  pro- 


86  BREEDING   AND    EXHIBITION    OF    PRIZE    POULTRY. 

ceedings.  It  should  be  remembered,  in  the  first  place,  that 
highly-bred  birds  are  seldom  so  prolific  as  more  ordinary  stock, 
and  are  generally  rather  too  fat  for  full  health  and  vigour. 
Too  many  eggs — the  full  dozen — are  likewise  very  often  set,  at 
seasons  when  the  hen  cannot  give  them  heat  enough  ;  so  that 
all  get  chilled  in  turn,  and  disappointment  ensues.  Bad 
packing  also  causes  its  share  of  failures  ;  and,  lastly,  eggs  are 
sometimes  kept  a  week  or  fortnight  after  receipt  before 
setting,  which  is  always,  but  especially  after  a  railway  journey, 
most  injurious.  We  can  only  recommend — 1.  That  a  hen  be 
ready  for  the  eg<xs  before  they  are  ordered.  2.  That  they  be 

i7  OiD  «/  V 

procured  from  a  breeder  of  known  honour  and  probity.  3.  That 
especial  directions  be  given  that  they  are  well  packed.  4.  That 
they  be  put  under  the  hen  immediately  upon  their  arrival.  And 
5.  That  in  cold  weather  the  eggs  be  divided,  so  as  not  to  exceed 
the  number  stated  under  each  hen. 

Eggs  are  best  packed  in  small  baskets,  with  the  top  tied 
down.  If  in  boxes,  the  covers  should  be  tied  down  or  screwed, 
not  nailed  on  any  account,  or  every  egg  will  be  endangered. 
The  best  packing  is  to  wrap  every  egg  carefully  in  a  separate 
wisp  of  soft  hay  ;  then  to  wrap  each  so  enclosed  in  paper,  to 
keep  the  hay  from  slipping  off ;  and,  finally,  to  imbed  the  eggs, 
thus  guarded,  in.  hay  cut  into  2-inch  lengths ;  chaff  or  bran  is  too 
solid.  Eggs  so  packed  will  go  hundreds  of  miles  without  injury. 

The  chickens  being  hatched,  let  the  utmost  care  be  taken 
of  them  in  every  way.  The  object  in  this  branch  of  poultry- 
breeding  is  not,  as  in  the  last  section,  to  get  a  profitable  amount 
of  meat  with  the  least  possible  expenditure  in  food  ;  but,  the 
birds  being  presumably  good  in  quality,  to  get  them  by  any 
means  to  the  greatest  possible  size.  For  although  size  is  never 
the  first  point  considered,  except  perhaps  in  the  case  of 
Dorkings,  it  not  unfrequently  gives  the  casting  vote  between 
two  contending  pens,  and  is  itself  a  most  desirable  point  in 
nearly  every  fowl.  Game  and  Bantams  may  be  excepted. 


CARE  AND  FEEDING  OF  CHICKENS.  87 

The  best  stock  food  is  undoubtedly  oatmeal,  and  for  valua- 
ble chickens  it  should  be  used  liberally.  With  respect  to  this 
part  of  the  treatment,  however,  we  will  give  at  length  the 
remarks  of  one  of  the  most  successful  breeders  of  Brahinas  (the 
largest  variety  of  fowl  known),  whose  birds  have  in  point  of 
size  been  usually  beyond  all  competition,  and  who  has  most 
kindly  described  for  this  work  the  system  which  has  had  such 
satisfactory  results.  The  same  feeding  is  applicable  in  every 
case  where  size  is  a  point  of  merit. 

"  If  the  chickens  are  early  hatched,  I  coop  the  hen  in  a 
warm  sheltered  place,  free  from  all  intrusion,  and  should  the 
weather  be  very  severe  keep  them  within  doors ;  the  floor, 
however,  must  be  gravel.  Till  about  a  fortnight  old  I  feed 
them  on  sops  made  with  boiled  milk,  and  sweetened  with 
coarse  sugar,  mixing  it  for  the  first  two  or  three  days  equally 
with  yolk  of  egg  boiled  hard  and  chopped  fine.  The  egg  is, 
however,  too  "binding"  to  be  continued  longer.  The  first 
thing  in  the  morning  they  have  warmed  milk  to  drink  ;  there 
is  nothing  equal  to  this  for  bringing  them  on  in  cold  weather. 
If  the  chicks  are  weakly,  yolk  of  egg  beaten  up  and  given  to 
drink  is  the  most  strengthening  thing  I  know.  In  water  they 
are  of  course  unlimited,  and  they  also  have  plenty  of  fresh 
i^rass  cut  small.  I  also  throw  them  two  or  three  times  a  day 
a  handful  of  coarse  raw  oatmeal. 

"  I  feed  like  this,  on  milk  sops,  raw  oatmeal,  <fec.,  with  milk 
<jvery  morning,  for  about  a  fortnight,  after  which  they  have 
!  /oiled  oatmeal  porridge  made  so  stiff  that  it  will  crumble  when 
cooL  They  grow  amazingly  fast  on  this  food,  and  are  very  fond 
of  it  I  also  give  them  boiled  rice  occasionally,  and  frequently 
throw  them  groats,  giving  them  also  a  little  fresh  cooked  meat 
iit  dinner-time,  cut  up  fine.  Of  course  they  are  fed  every 
i light,  after  dark,  u.-iually  about  ten  o'clock.  There  is  at  first  a 
1 ,  ttle  difficulty  in  getting  them  out  to  feed  at  night ;  but  they 
f.»<m  learn  the  time,  and  will  run  out  eagerly  for  their  'stir- 


88  BREEDING    AND   EXHIBITION   OF   PRIZE   POULTRY. 

about,'  which,  if  made  thick  enough,  they  prefer  to  any  other 
food.  The  mode  of  preparation  is  to  boil  a  saucepan  full  of 
water,  and  throw  in  as  much  oatmeal  as  will  take  it  all  up. 
Then  continue  stirring  till  it  is  a  stiff  crumbly  mass,  after 
which  turn  it  out  upon  a  large  plate  and  keep  stirring  it  about 
with  the  spoon  till  cool  enough  to  be  eaten. 

"  At  ten  weeks  old,  all  the  waste  birds  should  be  picked  out 
to  make  more  room  for  the  others,  and  the  cockerels  separated 
from  the  pullets.  The  main  food  will  still  consist  of  the  por- 
ridge, with  small  tail  wheat,  good  heavy  oats,  and  plenty  of 
green  food.  Good  potatoes  boiled  and  mashed  are  also  excel- 
lent food  for  a  change. 

"  A  little  camphor  put  in  their  drinking  water  will  help 
very  much  to  keep  them  in  health." 

We  have  little  to  add  to  the  above  remarks.  We  do  not 
ourselves  approve  of  giving  bread  sops  so  long,  and  feel  sure 
after  trial,  that  chickens  get  on  better  by  substituting  oatmeal 
after  the  first  day  or  two,  or  indeed  from  the  day  they  break 
the  shell.  In  cold  weather  also,  a  little  sulphate  of  iron,  or 
"  Douglas  mixture  "  should  always  be  added  to  the  water,  and 
a  little  bread  soaked  in  ale  will  be  found  beneficial.  The  warm 
milk  is  excellent,  and  is  much  better  than  the  plan  recom- 
mended by  many  of  giving  custard  j  the  latter  is  too  pamper- 
ing, and  after  it  chickens  will  sometimes  refuse  plain  whole- 
some food.  For  weakly  chickens,  however,  it  is  most  strength- 
ing  to  mix  up  a  raw  egg  with  their  oatmeal.  Above  all,  unless 
they  have  a  good  run  on  grass,  the  supply  of  green  food  must 
be  unlimited. 

For  prize  chickens,  it  is  a  good  plan  to  mix  with  their  meal 
a  portion  of  the  various  condiments  known  as  "  cattle  food"  or 
"cattle  spices."  The  appetite  is  thereby  increased,  and  in 
confinement  the  birds  grow  faster  and  keep  in  better  condition. 

Feed  often — every  hour,  if  possible,  from  daybreak,  and  let 
the  food  be  always  fresh — nothing  but  grain  or  dry  meal 


MEANS   OF   GETTING    SIZE.  89 

being  ever  allowed  to  remain.  With  such  treatment  and  good 
shelter,  if  the  stock  be  good  and  the  number  has  been  judi- 
ciously limited,  the  hen  will  not  fail  to  bring  a  fair  proportion 
through  the  most  inclement  season,  and  they  will  be  sure  to 
reach  a  good  standard  in  point  of  size,  having  the  best  time  of 
the  year  before  them  when  they  really  begin  to  grow. 

It  is  necessary  to  give  one  more  caution.  Do  not  let  prize 
chickens  roost  too  soon — never  before  they  are  at  least  three 
months  old — and  then  see  that  the  perches  are  large  enough, 
and  not  round  on  the  top,  but  like  the  flat  side  of  an  oval.  If 
they  leave  the  hen  before  the  proper  age  for  roosting,  let  them 
Have  every  night  a  good  bed  of  nice  clean  dry  ashes.  We 
never  allow  our  own  chickens,  even  while  with  the  hen,  to  bed 
upon  straw  :  ashes  are  much  cleaner,  and  if  supplied  an  inch 
deep  are  warmer  also.  To  this  plan  we  attribute  a  very  small 
proportion  of  losses,  even  in  very  severe  weather. 

If  a  good  field  or  other  grass  run  be  at  command,  the 
chickens  will  of  course  have  it,  and  it  will  go  a  long  way  in 
supplying  all  other  defective  arrangements.  But  to  our  own 
knowledge  some  of  the  finest  and  largest  fowls  we  have  ever 
seen  have  been  reared  in  a  gravelled  yard,  not  more  than 
eighteen  feet  square.  In  such  circumstances,  besides  the  most 
scrupulous  cleanliness  and  good  feeding  in  other  respects,  there 
must  be  green  food  ad  libitum — really  fine  chickens  cannot 
be  reared  without  it,  their  plumage  in  particular  being  of  a 
very  inferior  appearance,  and  quite  devoid  of  that  beautiful 
"bloom"  which  is  now  indispensable  to  success  in  the  show-pen. 

But  with  proper  care,  and  attention  to  the  above  plain  direc- 
tions, there  should  be  no  lack  in  due  season  of  good  fine  birds. 
As  they  grow,  and  get  through  their  first  moult,  they  will  be 
anxiously  scanned,  and  let  the  best  have  especial  care,  taking 
out  for  the  table  all  which  are  manifestly  not  up  to  the  mark, 
that  the  rest  may  have  more  attention.  We  have  already  said 
that  the  sexes  should  be  separated.  This  is  highly  essential  in 


00  BREEDING   AND    EXHIBITION    OF    PRIZE    POULTRY. 

the  larger  varieties  to  good  size,  as  too  early  a  call  ou  nature 
Regenerates  the  breed  ;  and  had  it  been  acted  upon  earlier  by 
exhibitors  of  poultry,  we  believe  the  standard  of  weight  in  most 
fowls  would  have  been  now  considerably  higher  than  it  is. 
There  will  thus  be  secured  also  greater  vigour  and  fertility 
during  the  breeding  season.  The  cockerel  should  not  be  put 
with  the  pullets  intended  for  exhibition  with  him,  till  a  fort- 
night before  the  show,  but  it  is  desirable  that  the  pullets  should 
have  a  little  longer  to  get  used  to  each  other  if  they  have  been 
previously  separated. 

With  the  special  treatment  in  view  of  exhibition,  however, 
we  will  begin  another  Chapter. 


CHAPTER  X. 

ON  "CONDITION,"  AND  THE  PREPARATION  OF  FOWLS  FOR  EXHI- 
BITION; AND  VARIOUS  OTHER  MATTERS  CONNECTED  WITH 
SHOWS. 

CHICKENS  are  rarely  fit  for  exhibition  until  at  least  six  months 
old,  or  even  more.  If  the  cockerels  and  pullets  have  been 
separated,  as  recommended  in  the  last  Chapter,  there  will 
rarely  have  been  any  eggs  laid  before  this  time ;  and  stimula- 
ting food  should  now  be  partially  discontinued  to  retard  their 
production  as  long  as  possible,  bearing  in  mind  that  the  com- 
mencement of  laying  almost,  if  not  quite,  stops  the  growth, 
which  it  is  desirable  to  prolong  as  far  as  possible  for  exhibition 
birds.  In  this  respect  the  fancier  and  the  ordinary  poultry- 
keeper  proceed  upon  contrary  principles,  the  one  endeavouring 
to  get  his  pullets  into  laying  order  as  soon  as  he  can,  the  other 
using  every  expedient  to  procure  a  precisely  opposite  result. 

If  the  chickens  have  been  from  the  very  shell  properly  and 
.systematically  fed,  they  will,  by  the  time  they  are  fit  for  show- 


GOOD    CONDITION.  91 

ing,  be  in  quite  as  good  condition  as  they  ought  to  be.  By 
giving  them  two  or  three  times  a-day  as  much  soft  food  as  they 
will  eat,  they  may  easily  be  got  up  to  any  degree  of  obesity ; 
and  such  a  system  of  feeding  is  necessary  to  success  at  some 
shows,  where  the  judges  seem  ignorant  of  the  proper  condition 
of  a  really  healthy  fowl ;  but  we  must  most  emphatically  raise 
our  voice  against  the  practice.  Let  it  be  remembered  that 
birds  so  fattened  are,  comparatively  at  least,  for  ever  ruined  for 
breeding  purposes  ;  that  few  chickens  will  ever  be  hatched  from 
them,  and  those  few  delicate  and  sickly ;  and  the  reflection  may 
perhaps  cause  the  breeder  to  hesitate  before  he  sacrifices,  it  may 
be  the  best  stock  in  his  yard,  to  any  exhibition  shrine.  We 
cannot  too  severely  condemn  the  conduct  of  those  judges,  who 
by  their  decisions  help  to  maintain  such  prejudicial  practices, 
and  thereby  render  practically  barren  many  of  the  finest  birds 
ever  bred.  We  have  known  a  splendid  pen  of  Dorkings,  far 
superior  in  real  size,  as  measured  by  the  framework  of  the  fowl, 
passed  by  contemptuously  because  inferior  in  mere  dead  weight 
to  a  pen  which  it  would  have  been  hopeless  to  breed  from. 
There  are,  however,  honourable  exceptions  :  the  most  eminent 
judge  in  England  always  refuses  to  award  a  prize  to  a  pen 
which  he  considers  over-fattened  ;  and  thereby  does  all  he  can 
to  check  a  system  which  prevents  many  celebrated  breeders  from 
sending  at  all  to  shows  where  such  practices  are  known  to 
prevail. 

What  we  consider — and  our  opinion  is  corroborated  by 
the  best  judges — to  be  really  "good  condition,"  is  such  an 
amount  of  flesh  as  can  be  earned  consistently  with  perfect 
health  and  fecundity,  combined  with  clean,  well-ordered  plumage. 
It  is  in  the  last  particular  that  a  good  grass-run  is  so  advan- 
tageous ;  fowls  always  lock  clean  and  nice  when  so  kept,  and 
rarely  require  much  further  preparation  beyond  washing  the 
feet  and  legs. 

With  a  good  number  of  such  birds  to  choose  from,  there 


92  BREEDING   AND    EXHIBITION    OF    PRIZE    POULTRY. 

should  be  little  difficulty  in  "  matching  a  pen,"  even  for  Bir- 
mingham or  Manchester.  Matching  is  a  matter  of  no  small 
moment,  as  bad  selection  is  fatal.  Each  bird  is  of  course  sup- 
posed to  be  of  a  fair  good  size,  and  tolerably  perfect  in  form, 
colour,  and  feather.  The  two  hens  must  then  be  carefully 
examined  and  compared  with  each  other.  Let  it  first  be  seen 
that  the  colour  of  their  legs,  eyes,  and  plumage  generally  cor- 
responds, and  that  their  combs  and  general  proportions  are 
alike  also.  Then  let  every  part  be  examined  in  detail,  see- 
ing that  the  neck-hackle,  back,  and  tail  are  the  same  in  colour 
and  marking ;  then  the  breast  and  wings.  If  all  be  satisfac- 
tory, and  the  birds  be  up  to  the  mark,  they  should  have  a  good 
chance  of  winning. 

And  let  them  not  be  judged  too  severely.  Let  the  owner 
remember  that  few  birds  are  absolutely  perfect;  and  that 
whilst  he,  well  knowing  every  fault,  may  see  most  plainly  the 
blemishes  in  his  own  pen,  impartial  judges  often  have  to  weigh 
other  blemishes  against  these,  and  he  may  thus  win  after  all. 
Glaring  faults  cannot  of  course  be  passed  over  ;  but  fair  general 
excellence  will  often  win  the  day  against  a  pen  far  superior  in 
some  respects,  if  accompanied  by  some  decided  blemish. 

The  pens  should  be  matched  and  the  birds  put  together  at 
least  ten  days  before  the  show  prepared  for,  in  order  that  the 
fowls  may  get  thoroughly  used  to  each  other.  Neglect  of  this 
precaution  may  cause  much  fighting  and  destruction  of  plumage 
in  the  exhibition  pen,  or  on  the  road  thither,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  loses  a  prize. 

For  the  following  observations  on  preparation  for  and  send- 
ing to  exhibition,  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  F.  Wragg,  the 
well-known  superintendent  of  the  poultry-yard  of  R.  W. 
Boyle,  Esq.  When  it  is  remembered  that  this  gentleman's 
fowls  have  always  to  undergo  a  sea  voyage  from  Ireland,  in 
addition  to  the  ordinary  railway  journey,  previous  to  exhi- 
bition, the  beautiful  u  bloom "  and  condition  in  which  they 


TREATMENT   BEFORE   EXHIBITION.  93 

invariably  appear,  will  cause  his  remarks  to  be  appreciated  by 
all  amateurs. 

"  The  system  I  pursue  previous  to  sending  to  shows  is  as 
follows  : — About  a  week  beforehand  I  select  the  pen  I  intend 
to  send,  seeing,  of  course,  that  they  match  well,  and  carefully 
wash  their  heads  and  legs.  I  then  have  a  nice  dry  room  pretty 
thickly  covered  with  clean  straw,  in  which  I  put  them,  scatter- 
ing a  few  handfuls  of  wheat  amongst  it.  They  scratch  the 
straw  about  searching  for  the  grains,  and  thus  clean  themselves 
beautifully  without  further  trouble.  The  birds  being  kept  up 
by  themselves  get  so  used  to  each  other  they  never  quarrel, 
either  on  the  journey  or  in  the  pen.  They  have  to  drink  clean 
water  with  a  little  sulphate  of  iron  dissolved,  which  causes  a 
bright  red  colour  in  the  ears  and  comb,  and  makes  them  look 
well  and  sprightly. 

"  They  are  fed  on  oatmeal  and  Indian  meal  well  boiled  to- 
gether, with  a  small  quantity  of  salt  just  to  season  it ;  when 
properly  done  it  is  like  a  thick  jelly.  Twice,  however,  during 
the  week,  not  more,  they  have  rice,  which  is  prepared  by  adding 
1  Ib.  to  a  pint  of  water,  and  boiling  till  the  water  is  absorbed, 
then  adding  as  much  milk  as  it  will  take  up  without  getting 
thin,  with  a  handful  of  coarse  brown  sugar ;  keep  stirring  the 
whole  till  done,  and  then  put  in  a  bowl  to  cooL  Of  this  they 
are  very  fond,  and  it  keeps  them  from  purging.  I  also  give 
them  plenty  of  fresh  green  food. 

"  In  their  hamper  I  put,  of  course,  plenty  of  clean  soft 
straw.  I  also  tie  on  one  side  of  it,  near  the  top,  a  fresh-pulled 
cabbage,  and  on  the  other  side  a  good  piece  of  the  bottom  side 
of  a  loa£  of  which  they  will  eat  away  all  the  soft  part.  Before 
starting  I  give  each  bird  half  a  table-spoonful  of  port  wine, 
which  makes  them  sleep  a  good  part  of  the  journey.  Of  course, 
if  I  go  with  my  birds,  as  I  generally  do,  I  see  that  they,  as 
well  as  myself  have  "  refreshment "  on  the  road. 

"  With  regard  to  what  you  have  remarked  about  showing 


94  BREEDING    AND    EXHIBITION    OF    PHIZE    POULTRY. 

birds  fat,  I  never  do  so.  As  you  truly  observe,  many  birds  are 
ruined  by  it.  Good,  healthy  condition,  with  a  nice  gloss  on 
the  feathers,  is  what  I  aim  at  in  exhibiting,  and  the  treatment 
I  have  described  is  what  I  have  found  best  calculated  to 
attain  it." 

Little  can  be  added  to  these  directions  from  so  high  an 
authority.  For  white  fowls,  however,  or  which  have  much 
white  in  their  plumage,  the  cleansing  process  above  described 
will  often  be  found  insufficient.  In  such  cases  the  birds  must 
be  carefully  washed  with  soap  and  water  the  night  before 
sending  off.  Take  a  fine  sponge,  and,  having  well  soaped  it, 
smooth  down  every  feather  repeatedly,  so  as  to  clean  without 
ruffling  it ;  then  repeat  the  process  with  water  only  till  the 
soap  is  removed,  and,  lastly,  with  a  soft  towel.  Let  the  birds 
be  then  left  for  the  night  in  a  box  well  littered  with  clean 
straw,  open  to,  but  not  too  near,  the  fire.  Soda  should  never 
be  used,  as  it  stains  the  feathers  yellow ;  and  even  the  soap 
must  be  mild,  without  much  free  alkali.  If  they  have  had 
an  extensive  run  on  grass,  however,  the  whitest  fowls 
scarcely  ever  need  washing,  except  as  regards  their  feet  and 
legs,  giving  also  attention  to  the  comb  and  wattles,  if  neces- 
sary. It  is  the  poor  dwellers  in  towns  who  have  to  take  such 
precautions,  and  have  so  much  to  contend  against.  Yet,  in 
spite  of  all  this,  we  often  see  town  breeders  beating  the  very 
best  country  yards;  and  the  fact  proves  that  care  and  good 
system  are  of  even  more  importance  than  any  mere  natural 
advantages. 

Many  exhibitors  recommend  the  giving  of  linseed  for  a 
week  before  exhibition.  Its  use  is  to  impart  lustre  to  the 
plumage,  which  it  does  by  increasing  the  secretion  of  oil.  The 
fowls  generally  refuse  the  seed  whole,  and  the  best  method  of 
administration  is  to  add  a  small  portion  of  the  meal  daily  to 
the  ordinary  soft  food.  A.  preferable  plan,  however,  and  one 
which  agrees  better  with  the  health  of  the  fowls,  is  to  let  the 


BEST    FORM    OF    HAMPER.  9& 

evening  repast  of  grain  for  the  last  fortnight  consist  of  buck- 
wheat and  hempseed  in  equal  portions,  which  will  be  equally 
effective,  and  is  greedily  devoured  by  the  birds,  adding  also  to 
the  beauty  of  the  combs  and  wattles.  We  recently  exhibited, 
at  a  first- class  show,  a  pen  of  dark  Brahma  chickens,  which 
took  the  first  prize.  The  redness  of  the  combs  and  the  ex- 
quisite gloss  on  the  plumage — every  feather  shining  like  velvet 
— were  much  admired ;  and  we  have  repeatedly  been  asked  the 
means  by  which  such  condition  was  attained.  The  only  secret 
was  the  use  of  hempseed  and  buckwheat,  with  "Douglas- 
mixture"  (see  page  30)  in  the  drinking  water,  combined,  of 
course,  with  good  feeding  generally. 

Much  difference  of  opinion  exists  as  to  the  best  form  of  ham 
per,  but  general  experience  approves  most  of  an  oval  shape,  of  a 
size  to  give  just  ample  room  to  the  three  fowls  side  by  side. 
Square  corners  are  apt  to  catch  the  tails,  and  cause  damage.  For 
Spanish  or  other  large-combed  breeds  it  is  best  to  have  no 
cover,  simply  stitching  a  strong  piece  of  canvas  over  the  top ; 
but  for  most  fowls  a  wicker  top  is  best,  as  affording  more  pro- 
tection. It  is  of  some  consequence  to  committees  that  these 
covers  should  be  flat,  in  order  that  the  baskets  may  be  com- 
pactly stowed  away  in  the  exhibition-hall. 

In  cold  weather  let  the  hamper  be  well  lined  with  canvas, 
or  straw  stitched  to  the  wicker-work.  And  if  occupied  by  geese, 
let  special  care  be  taken  that  their  bills  cannot  reach  either  the 
string  fastenings  or  the  direction-labels.  They  have  a  peculiar 
fancy  for  breakfasting  upon  those  articles ;  and  even  fowls  will 
occasionally  contract  the  same  vicious  habit. 

All  has  now  been  done  that  can  be  done,  and  the  rest  must 
be  left  to  the  decision  of  the  judges.  It  is  but  rarely  that 
fault  can  be  found  with  their  verdict :  their  duties  are  most 
arduous,  and  the  manner  in  which,  as  a  rule,  they  discharge 
them  is  deserving  of  the  highest  praise  ;  but  one  or  two 
are  known  to  have  certain  invincible  prejudices,  which 


96  BREEDING   AND   EXHIBITION   OF   PRIZE    POULTRY. 

prevent  them  from  judging  some  classes  in  accordance 
with  the  general  rules  as  understood  by  the  majority. 
This  is  to  be  regretted,  as  it  hinders  the  good  under- 
standing which  always  ought  to  exist  between  judges  and  ex- 
hibitors. The  object  of  both  ought  to  be  identical — the 
promotion  of  the  highest  standard  obtainable  in  the  different 
breeds,  but  it  is  necessary  to  this  that  the  breeder  should  know 
definitely  and  authoritatively  ivhat  he  is  to  seek  after.  The 
"  Standard  of  Excellence  "  did  good  service  here,  and  was  much 
wanted,  but  it  is  silent  on  many  points,  and,  with  reference  to 
some  others,  is  avowedly  ignored  by  many  judges.  We  think 
there  is  much  need  for  a  revised  and  larger  work  on  the  same 
basis ;  and,  in  the  meantime,  it  is  our  opinion  that  exhibitors 
have  decidedly  a  right  to  know  beforehand  who  are  to  judge 
their  birds.  To  call  upon  them  to  send  their  best  stock  to  a 
show  where,  it  may  be,  the  judges'  known  prejudices  on  certain 
points  give  them  no  chance  of  a  prize,  is  evidently  unfair,  and 
the  plan  we  recommend  of  publishing  the  names  beforehand 
would  do  more  than  anything  else  to  correct  such  individual 
idiosyncrasies,  and  produce  a  more  uniform  standard  of  merit. 

But  we  are  leaving  the  fowls,  and  must  return  to  them, 
though  we  have  little  more  to  add.  Whether  they  require  any 
special  treatment  on  their  return  will  chiefly  depend  upon  the 
system  of  feeding  which  has  been  pursued  during  the  period  of 
exhibition.  If,  as  is  too  often  the  case,  the  pernicious  plan  of 
feeding  on  whole  barley  ad  libitum  has  been  retained,  tile  birds 
will  all  be  more  or  less  feverish  and  disturbed,  and  will  need  a 
corrective.  But  such  feeding  cannot  be  too  strongly  con- 
demned. It  saves  trouble  certainly,  but  if  a  committee  are  not 
willing  to  take  so  much  pains  as  will  keep  the  birds  in  perfect 
health,  they  have  no  right  to  gather  them  together.  We  have 
the  highest  possible  authority  for  saying  that  the  best  feeding 
is  either  barleymeal  or  oatmeal  in  the  morning,  mixed  rather 
dry,  and  given  before  the  public  are  admitted,  with  wheat  in  the 


TREATMENT   AFTER    EXHIBITION.  97 

evening;  and,  in  each  case,  only  as  much  as  the  fowls  will  eat  at 
once,  without  leaving  any  in  the  pens.  Only  these  two  meals 
should  be  given,  as  the  birds  have  no  exercise,  and  do  not 
require  more,  besides  which,  the  natural  excitement  of  the  show 
is  best  counteracted  by  a  rather  spare  diet.  Water  should  be 
given  three  times  a  day  for  a  short  time  only — say  five  or  ten 
minutes — not  left  for  the  birds  to  drink  at  will.  Barley  ought 
not  to  be  used  at  all,  as  it  is  next  to  impossible  it  can  be 
properly  digested. 

Fowls  fed  as  here  recommended  will  be  returned  in  as  good 
condition  as  they  were  sent,  and  require  no  attention  at  all 
beyond  seeing  that  they  do  not  get  too  much  water  and  green 
food  at  first.  But  if  they  return  from  a  "  barley- fed  "  show,  or 
the  system  on  which  they  have  been  fed  is  unknown,  or,  in  any 
case,  if  they  appear  either  feverish  or  "  overdone,"  give  each  a 
rather  scanty  meal  of  stale  bread-crumb  soaked  in  warm  ale,  let 
them  have  two  or  three  sips  only  of  rather  tepid  water,  and  then 
administer  a  tea-spoonful  of  castor-oil  to  each  bird.  This  will 
probably  be  at  night.  Next  day  feed  them  on  meal  only  in 
moderation,  see  that  they  cannot  drink  to  excess,  and  give 
them  half  a  cabbage-leaf  each,  or  a  large  sod  of  grass,  but  no 
other  green  food ;  afterwards  let  them  return  to  their  usual 
diet.  It  is  in  all  cases  safest  not  to  let  them  have  any  grain, 
and  to  put  them  on  an  allowance  of  water  for  the  day  after 
their  return. 

If  our  recommendations  be  attended  to,  there  will  be  little 
injury  from  exhibition,  and  the  same  birds  may  be  shown  again 
and  again  without  suffering.  We  know  of  fowls  which  have 
\  won  as  many  as  fifty  prizes  ;  and  indeed  first-class  exhibition 
birds  are  almost  always  shown  pretty  frequently.  They  want 
care  and  attentive  examination  after  each  competition  to  see 
that  they  are  not  losing  health ;  if  it  appears  so,  whatever  other 
engagements  may  have  been  made,  let  them  have  rest  till  com- 
pletely recovered ;  otherwise,  property  worth  scores  of  pounds 

H 


98  BREEDING    AND    EXHIBITION    OF    PRIZE    POULTRY. 

may  be  sacrificed  for  "just  one  more  cup,"  to  the  owner's  lasting 
regret. 

We  know  not  that  we  can  usefully  add  any  more  upon  this 
part  of  the  subject.  Something  must  be  learnt  by  experience, 
for  which  no  written  directions  can  be  substituted  ;  nevertheless, 
we  are  not  without  hope  that  these  few  pages  may  prove  of 
service  in  guiding  the  reader  through  the,  perhaps,  hitherto 
untried  ordeal  of  the  exhibition  hall. 


SECTION   III. 


DIFFERENT  BREEDS  OF  FOWLS : 

THEIR  CHARACTERISTIC    POINTS,  WITH  A  COMPARISON 
OF  THEIR  MERITS  AND   PRINCIPAL   DEFECTS. 


SECTION  III. 


THE  characteristics  of  the  different  breeds,  as  given  in 
the  following  pages,  are  generally  in  accordance  with  the 
well-known  "  Standard  of  Excellence  "  published  under 
the  authority  of  the  Poultry  Club.  In  only  a  few  cases 
has  it  been  found  necessary  to  dissent  from  the  definitions 
as  there  expressed,  in  order  to  harmonise  with  the  de- 
cisions of  the  best  judges  at  the  principal  shows.  In  all 
of  these  cases  such  divergence  of  opinion  is  expressly 
mentioned ;  and  it  is  always  to  be  understood,  that 
besides  a  most  careful  personal  examination  and  com- 
parison of  the  best  specimens  and  most  recent  decisions, 
we  have  the  highest  authority  in  each  instance  for  every 
such  difference  of  judgment, 

There  are  also  many  points  essential  to  the  correct 
judging  of  exhibition  birds  which  are  not  noticed  in  the 
"  Standard "  at  all,  and  a  few  which  have  even  been 
overlooked  by  all  previous  writers.  Such  omissions  we 
have  endeavoured  to  supply,  and  trust  this  Section  may 
be  found  an  authority  not  only  intelligible,  definite,  and 
easy  to  consult,  but  in  all  points  accurate  and  reliable. 

To  secure  both  these  objects  is  the  purpose  of  the 
following  plate,  drawn  from  feathers  of  perfect  and  prize 
birds,  and  which  will  be  hereafter  frequently  referred  to. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

s\^/ 


DIFFEKENT  BEEEDS  OP  FOWLS. 

CHAPTER  XL 

COCHIN-CHINAS   OR   SHANGHAES. 

THE  Cochin  breed,  as  now  known,  appears  to  have  been  im- 
ported into  this  country  about  the  year  1847 ;  those  so-called 
exhibited  by  Her  Majesty  in  1843  having  been  not  only  desti- 
tute of  feathers  on  the  shanks,  but  entirely  different  in  form  and 
general  character.  No  other  breed  of  poultry  has  ever  attracted 
equal  attention,  or  maintained  such  high  prices  for  such  a 
length  of  time;  and  the  celebrated  "poultry  mania,"  which 
was  mainly  caused  by  its  introduction,  will  always  be  re- 
membered as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  phenomena  of  modern 
times.  To  account  in  some  measure  for  this,  it  should  be 
remembered  that  no  similar  fowls  had  ever  been  known  in 
Europe;  and  when  therefore  Cochins  were  first  exhibited,  it 
was  natural  that  their  gigantic  size,  gentle  disposition,  pro- 
lificacy, and  the  ease  with  which  they  could  be  kept  in  con- 
finement, should  rapidly  make  them  favourites  with  the  public. 
But  the  extent  to  which  the  passion  for  them  would  grow  no 
one  certainly  could  have  foreseen.  A  hundred  guineas  has 
repeatedly  been  paid  for  a  single  cock,  and  was  not  at  all  an 
uncommon  price  for  a  pen  of  really  fine  birds.  Men  became 
mad  for  Cochins,  and  spent  small  fortunes  in  procuring  them ; 
and  all  England,  from  north  to  south,  seemed  given  over  to  a 
universal  "hen  fever,"  as  it  was  humorously  termed.  Their 


102  DIFFERENT  BREEDS  OF  FOWLS. 

advocates  would  have  it  that  the  birds  had  no  faults.  They 
were  to  furnish  eggs  for  breakfast,  fowls  for  the  table,  aiMl 
better  morals  than  even  Dr.  Watts'  hymns  for  the  children, 
who  were  from  them  "  to  learn  kind  and  gentle  manners,"  and 
thenceforward  to  live  in  peace. 

Such  a  state  of  things,  of  course,  could  not  last,  and  the 
breed  is  now  perhaps  as  unjustly  depreciated  by  many  as  it  was 
then  exalted ;  for  Cochins  have  great  and  real  merits,  and  on 
many  accounts  deserve  the  attention  of  the  poultry-keeper. 
The  mania,  absurd  as  it  was,  did  however  good  service  by 
awakening  a  general  interest  in  the  whole  subject  of  poultry, 
which  has  never  since  died  out. 

As  now  brought  to  perfection,  the  breed  presents  the 
following  characteristics  : — 

The  cock  ought  not  to  weigh  less  than  10  or  11  Ibs.,  and  a 
very  fine  one  will  reach  13  ;  the  hens  from  8  to  9  or  10  Ibs. 
The  larger  the  better,  if  form  and  general  make  be  good. 

The  breast  in  both  sexes  should  be  as  broad  and  full  as 
possible ;  the  general  want  of  breast  being  the  greatest  defect 
in  this  breed.  The  neck  can  hardly  be  too  short  in  either  sex, 
so  that  it  does  not  look  clumsy ;  and  the  back  must  be  short 
from  head  to  tail,  and  very  broad.  The  legs  to  be  short  and 
set  widely  apart,  and  the  general  make  to  be  as  full,  wide,  and 
deep  as  possible. 

The  shanks  are  profusely  feathered  down  to  the  toes,  and 
the  thighs  should  be  plentifully  furnished  with  the  fine  downy 
feathers  denominated  "  fluff."  The  quality  of  this  "  fluff,"  and 
of  the  feathering  generally,  is  often  a  pretty  good  indication  of 
the  breed  :  if  fine  and  downy,  the  birds  are  probably  well  bred; 
but  if  rank  and  coarse,  they  will  not  be  worth  attention  as 
fancy  birds.  There  is  a  tendency  in  the  cocks  to  scanty  fur- 
nishing on  the  thighs ;  but  the  breeder  should  choose  a  bird 
with  as  much  "  fluff"  as  he  can  get ;  not,  however,  allowing 
vulture  hocks,  which  often  accompany  the  heaviest  feathered 


COCHINS.  103 

birds,  but  which  are  now  disqualified  at  all  first-class  shows. 
The  colour  of  the  shanks  is  yellow,  a  tinge  of  red  being 
rather  a  recommendation  than  otherwise ;  but  green  or  white 
legs  are  to  be  avoided. 

The  head  should  be  neat  and  rather  small-;  the  comb  of 
moderate  size,  straight,  erect,  and  evenly  serrated  :  a  notched 
or  twisted  comb  is  a  great  blemish.  The  ear-lobes  must  be 
pure  red,  no  white  being  allowed.  The  eye  ought  in  colour  to 
approach  that  of  the  plumage,  and  should  appear  bright  and 
sprightly. 

The  tail  of  the  hen  is  very  small,  and  nearly  covered  by  the 
feathers  of  the  saddle,  which  are  very  plentiful,  and  form  a 
softly  rising  cushion  on  the  posterior  part  of  the  back ;  the 
tail  of  the  cock  is  larger  than  in  the  hen,  but  still  small,  and  must 
not  be  very  erect,  or  contain  much  quill ;  the  wings  in  both 
sexes  very  small,  neatly  and  closely  folded  in,  and  the  general 
carriage  noble  and  majestic. 

The  principal  colours  now  bred  are  white,  buff,  and  part- 
ridge. The  white  and  buff  are  most  popular. 

The  white  must  be  perfectly  pure  in  every  feather;  and 
green  legs,  which  are  apt  to  occur  in  this  colour,  will  disqualify 
any  pen,  however  meritorious  otherwise. 

In  buff  the  colour  may  be  any  shade,  but  all  the  birds  in  a 
pen  must  correspond;  black  is  admissible  in  the  tail  of  both  sexes, 
but  the  less  there  is  the  better.  Black  pencilling  in  the  hackle 
is  very  objectionable,  and  a  bird  so  marked  will  have  no  chance 
at  a  good  show ;  but  a  little  marking,  if  well  defined  so  as  to 
form  a  slight  necklace,  with  no  trace  of  indistinctness  or  clouding, 
is  not  to  be  regarded  as  a  fatal  fault.  The  colour  of  the  cock 
should  correspond  with  the  hens  on  the  breast  and  the  lower 
parts  of  the  body ;  but  his  hackles,  wing  coverts,  back,  and 
saddle  hackles,  are  usually  a  rich  gold  colour.  It  should  be 
observed  that  buff  birds  generally  breed  chickens  lighter  than 
themselves,  and  that  most  birds  get  rather  lighter  each  moulting 


104  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

season;  the  breeding  stock  should  therefore  be  chosen  one  or 
two  shades  darker  than  the  colour  desired. 

In  partridge  hens  the  neck  hackles  are  bright  gold  striped 
with  black,  the  rest  of  the  body  light  brown  pencilled  with  a 
very  dark  shade  of  the  same  colour ;  the  cock's  hackles  and 
saddle  bright  red  striped  with  black,  back  dark  red,  wings  the 
same,  crossed  with  a  sharply  denned  bar  of  metallic  green 
black  ;  breast  and  under  part  of  the  body  black,  not  mottled. 

Black  used  also  to  be  shown,  but  has  nearly  disappeared, 
from  the  almost  impossibility  of  keeping  the  colour  free  from 
stain.  The  other  colours  are  grouse  and  cinnamon.  The 
latter  is  well  described  by  its  name ;  grouse  is  merely  very 
dark  partridge.  Cuckoo  Cochins  are  never  correct  in  form, 
and  we  believe  are  produced  by  crossing  with  the  Gueldres. 

The  merits  of  Cochins  have  already  been  hinted  at.  The 
chickens,  though  they  feather  slowly,  are  hardier  than  any 
other  breed  except  Brahmas,  and  will  thrive  where  others 
would  perish  ;  they  grow  fast,  and  may  be  killed  when  twelve 
weeks  old.  The  fowls  will  do  well  in  very  confined  space,  are 
very  tame  and  easily  domesticated,  and  seldom  quarrel.  They 
cannot  fly,  and  a  fence  two  feet  high  will  effectually  keep  them 
within  bounds.  As  sitters  and  mothers  the  hens  are  unsur- 
passed; though  they  are,  unless  cooped,  apt  to  leave  their 
chickens  and  lay  again  too  soon  for  very  early  broods.  Lastly, 
they  are  prolific  layers,  especially  in  winter,  when  eggs  are  most 
scarce. 

Their  defects  are  equally  marked.  The  flesh  is  inferior  to 
that  of  other  breeds,  though  tolerably  good  when  eaten  young ; 
there  is,  however,  always  a  great  absence  of  breast,  which 
excludes  the  fowl  from  the  market,  and  confines  it  to  the 
family  table.  The  leg,  which  contains  most  meat,  is,  however, 
providentially  not  so  tough  as  in  other  breeds.  The  want  of 
breast  is  best  overcome  by  crossing  with  the  Dorking,  the 
result  being  a  very  heavy  and  well-proportioned  table  fowl, 


BRAHMAS.  105 

which  lavs  well,  and  is  easily  reared.  The  hen,  excellent  layer 
though  she  is,  has  also  an  irresistible  inclination  to  sit  after 
every  dozen  or  score  of  eggs ;  and  this  is  apt  to  be  very  trouble- 
some, except  where  a  regular  and  constant  succession  of 
chickens  is  desired,  when  it  becomes  a  convenience,  as  broods 
can  be  hatched  with  the  greatest  regularity.  Finally,  this 
breed  is  peculiarly  subject  to  a  prejudicial  fattening,  which,  if 
not  guarded  against  by  the  avoidance  of  too  much  or  too 
fattening  food,  will  check  laying,  and  even  cause  death. 

Cochins  are  subject  to  an  affection  called  white  comb,  con- 
sisting of  an  eruption  on  the  comb  and  wattles  much  re- 
sembling powdered  chalk,  and  which,  if  not  dealt  with  in  time, 
extends  all  over  the  body,  causing  the  feathers  to  fall  off.  The 
causes  are  want  of  cleanliness  and  of  green  food,  chiefly  the  latter. 
This  must,  of  course,  be  supplied,  with  an  occasional  dose  of 
six  grains  of  jalap  to  purge  the  bird ;  and  the  comb  anointed 
with  an  ointment  composed  of  four  parts  cocoa-nut  oil,  two  of 
powdered  turmeric,  and  one  of  sulphur. 

On  the  whole,  we  consider  this  breed  most  useful  to  supply 
the  family  demand  for  either  chickens  or  eggs,  or  to  provide 
sitters  for  numerous  broods  ;  but  it  is  little  valued  as  a  market 
fowl  unless  crossed  with  the  Dorking  or  Crevecceur ;  neither 
will  it  be  found  profitable  where  eggs  are  the  sole  consideration, 
and  the  hens  cannot  be  allowed  to  indulge  their  sitting 
propensities. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

BRAHMA     POOTRAS. 

IT  is  not  our  province  to  enter  at  length  into  the  long  disputed 
and  still  unsettled  question  as  to  whether  Brahmas  originated 
in  a  cross  with  the  Cochin,  or  are  entitled  to  rank  as  a  distinct 
variety.  There  is  much  to  be  said  on  both  sides.  In  favour  of 
the  Cochin  cross  may  be  named  the  gigantic  size,  the  feathered 


106  DIFFERENT    BREEDS    OF    FOWLS. 

legs  and  general  appearance,  the  colour  of  the  eggs,  and  forma- 
tion of  the  skull ;  whilst  those  who  believe  it  distinct  have 
strong  arguments  in  the  altogether  unique  and  peculiar  comb, 
the  colour,  the  prominent  breastbone,  the  very  different  dis- 
position and  habits,  and  the  opinion  of,  we  believe,  every 
eminent  breeder.  But  one  thing  is  certain :  ever  since  this 
magnificent  breed  was  introduced,  it  has  steadily  become  more 
and  more  popular,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most  favourite 
varieties.  To  prosper  thus,  in  the  total  absence  of  any  poultry 
"  mania,"  a  breed  must  have  real  and  substantial  merits.  Such 
Brahmas  unquestionably  have ;  and  we  shall  endeavour,  there- 
fore, to  give  that  full  description  of  them  which  both  their  high 
rank  as  economic  poultry,  and  their  rapidly  growing  popularity, 
alike  demand. 

Their  most  marked  peculiarity  is  in  the  comb,  which  is 
totally  different  from  that  of  any  other  variety.  It  resembles 
three  combs  pressed  into  one.  In  a  first-class  cock,  the  effect  is 
such  as  would  be  produced  were  a  little  comb,  about  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  in  height,  laid  close  to  each  side  of  his  own  proper 
comb,  twice  as  high,  the  centre  one  being  thus  higher  than  the 
others.  Each  division  of  the  comb  ought  to  be  straight  and 
even,  irregular  or  twisted  combs  being  serious  faults  in  a  show- 
pen.  In  the  hens  the  comb  is  very  small,  but  the  triple 
character  should  be  equally  evident,  and  the  formation  is  quite 
plain  even  when  the  chicks  first  break  the  shell. 

When  first  introduced,  single-combed  Brahmas  were  often 
shown,  but  are  now  scarcely  ever  seen,  and  rarely  take  prizes 
if  there  are  any  decently  good  pea-combed  birds  at  the  same 
show. 

There  are  two  varieties  of  Brahmas  exhibited,  known  as 
"Light,"  and  "Dark"  or  "  Pencilled "  Brahmas;  and  on  no 
account  should  they  ever  be  crossed,  the  result  being,  according 
to  Mr.  Teebay,  who  was  formerly  the  most  successful  and  ex- 
tensive breeder  of  Brahmas  in  England,  always  unsatisfactory. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

np 


68  7 

FEATHERS. 

No.  1  is  a  Striped  Feather. 
„  2  a  Laced  Feather. 
„  3,  4  are  Spangled  Feathers,  No.  3  being  from  a  Golden  "  Yorkshire  Pheasant," 

and  No.  4  from  a  Lancashire  "  Mooney"  Hen. 
„  5,  6,  7,  8  are  Penciled  Feathers,  No.  5  being  plucked  from  a  Hamburgh,  and 

6,  7,  8  from  a  Dark  or  Pencilled  Brahma. 


BRAHMAS.  107 

The  cross  may  be  known,  if  the  birds  profess  to  be  "  dark,"  by 
the  lighter,  gayer  appearance  of  the  cock's  breast,  perhaps 
accompanied  with  large  white  splashes,  and  sandy  coloured  or 
brownish  patches*  about  the  pullets.  Should  the  fowls  be 
offered  as  "light"  Brahmas,  the  pullets  will  have  buff, 
yellowish,  or  sandy  backs  and  wings,  and  the  cocks  most  likely 
yellowish  hackles. 

The  following  description  of  light  Brahmas  has  been  care- 
fully drawn  up  under  the  supervision  of  John  Pares,  Esq.,  of 
Postford,  near  Guildford,  well  known  as  the  most  eminent 
exhibitor  of  this  variety  for  many  years  past  : — 

"Light  Brahmas  are  chiefly  white  in  the  colour  of  the 
plumage,  but  if  the  feathers  be  parted,  the  bottom  colour  will 
often  be  found  of  a  bluish  grey,  showing  an  important  dis- 
tinction between  them  and  white  Cochins,  in  which  the  feathers 
are  always  white  down  to  the  skin.  The  neck  hackles  should 
be  distinctly  striped  with  black  down  the  centre  of  each  feather. 
(See  "  Feathers,"  No.  1).  That  of  the  cock  is,  however,  often 
lighter  than  in  the  case  of  the  hen.  The  back  should  be  quite 
white  in  both  sexes. 

"  The  wings  should  appear  white  when  folded,  but  the  flight 
feathers  are  black. 

"  The  tail  should  be  black  in  both  sexes.  In  the  cock  it  is 
well  developed,  and  the  coverts  show  splendid  green  reflections 
in  the  light  It  should  stand  tolerably  upright,  and  open  well 
out  laterally,  like  a  fan. 

"  The  legs  ought  to  be  yellow,  and  well  covered  with  white 
feathers,  which  may  or  may  not  be  very  slightly  mottled  with 
black  :  vulture  hocks  are  a  great  defect 

"  The  ear-lobes  must  be  pure  red,  and  every  bird  should,  of 
course,  have  a  perfect  pea-comb,  though  good  birds  with  a 
single  comb  have  occasionally  been  shown  with  success." 

*  This  must  not  be  confounded  with  the  brownish  tinge  which  nearly 
all  "  dark  "  Brahma  hens  acquire  with  age. 


108  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

The  "  dark"  or  "  pencilled"  Brahmas  are  similar  to  the 
above  in  comb,  form,  symmetry,  <fec.,  but  as  different  in  colour 
as  can  well  be.  By  the  kindness  of  R.  W.  Boyle,  Esq.,  of 
Bray,  Ireland,  who  has  for  some  years  been  known  as  the  most 
eminent  breeder  of  dark  Brahmas  in  the  United  Kingdom, 
we  are  enabled  to  give  the  best  description  of  this  magnificent 
variety  which  has  ever  been  published,  most  carefully  drawn 
up  by  him  for  publication  in  these  pages. 

"  The  head  of  a  perfect  Brahma  cock  should  be  surmounted 
by  a  good  'pea-comb,'  which  resembles  three  small  combs  running 
parallel  the  length  of  the  head,  the  centre  one  slightly  the 
highest,  but  all  evenly  serrated  and  straight,  and  the  whole  low 
and  set  firm  on  the  head.  Beak  strong,  well  curved,  and  the 
colour  of  horn.  Wattles  full :  ear-lobes  perfectly  red,  well 
rounded,  and  falling  below  the  wattles. 

"  His  neck  should  be  rather  short,*  but  well  curved,  with 
very  full  hackle,  which  is  silvery  white  striped  with  black,  and 
ought  to  flow  well  over  the  back  and  sides  of  the  breast.  At 
the  head,  the  feathers  should  be  white.  Back  very  short,  wide, 
and  flat,  rather  rising  into  a  nice,  soft,  small  tail,  carried  rather 
upright.  The  back  almost  white.  The  saddle-feathers  white, 
striped  with  black,  as  in  the  neck,  and  the  longer  they  are 
the  better.  The  soft  rise  from  the  saddle  to  the  tail,  and 
the  side  feathers  of  the  tail,  to  be  pure  lustrous  green  black, 
except  a  few  next  the  saddle,  which  may  be  slightly  ticked 
with  white  :  the  tail  feathers  themselves  pure  black. 

"The  breast  should  either  be  black,  or  black  with  each 
feather  slightly  and  evenly  tipped  with  white,  but  on  no 
account  splashes  of  white  :  it  should  be  well  carried  forward, 
full,  and  broad.  Wings  small,  and  well  tucked  up  under  the 
saddle-feathers  and  thigh  fluff.  A  good  sharply-defined  black 
bar  across  the  wing  is  very  important. 

"  The  fluff  on  the  thighs  and  hinder  parts  ought  to  be  black 
*  Tho  "  Standard  "  says  long.  A  great  error. — Note  by  Author. 


BRAHMAS.  109 

or  very  dark  grey.  The  lower  part  of  the  thighs  should  have 
plenty  of  nice  soft  feathers,  almost  black,  rounding  off  about 
the  joint  and  hiding  it,  but  on  no  account  running  into  '  vul- 
ture hocks,'  which  I  consider  a  great  eyesore. 

"  The  cock  should  carry  himself  upright  and  sprightly,  and 
great  width  and  depth  are  important  points  :  a  good  bird 
should  slww  great  size,  and  *  look  big.' 

"  The  hen's  head  should  be  small,  with  a  perfect  pea-comb, 
as  in  the  cock,  but  smaller;  and  the  beak  also  resembling  his  in 
the  decided  curve  and  colour.  Wattles  quite  small  and  neatly 
rounded,  the  red  ears  hanging  below  them.  Neck  short,  and 
gradually  enlarging  from  head  to  shoulders.  Feathers  about 
the  head  greyish,  verging  to  white,  and  the  hackle  more  striped 
with  black  than  in  the  cock. 

"  General  make  of  the  back,  tail,  thighs,  wings,  and  breast, 
the  same  as  in  the  cock,  but  of  course  in  proportion. 

"  The  colour  of  the  hen,  except  the  neck  and  tail,  is  the  same 
all  over,  each  feather,  even  up  to  the  throat  on  breast,  having  a 
dingy  white  ground,  very  much  and  closely  pencilled  with  dark 
steel  grey.  The  pencilling  on  the  throat  and  breast  is  very  im- 
portant, and  is  one  of  the  first  points  looked  at  in  a  prize  hen. 

"  The  hen's  legs  are  short  and  thick,  not  quite  so  yellow  as 
the  cock's,  and  profusely  feathered  on  the  outside  with  feathers 
the  same  colour  as  the  body.  Her  carriage  is  scarcely  so  up- 
right as  that  of  the  male  bird. 

"With  regard  to  the  economic  merits  of  Brahmas,  the 
pullets  lay  when  six  months  old,  and  usually  lay  from  thirty  to 
forty  eggs  before  they  seek  to  hatch;  but  I  have  repeatedly 
known  pullets  begin  to  lay  in  autumn,  and  never  stop — let  it 
be  hail,  rain,  snow,  or  storm — for  a  single  day  till  next  spring. 
I  have  kept  several  breeds,  such  as  Dorkings,  Spanish,  and 
Hamburghs;  but  never  now  give  to  my  tenants  any  but 
Brahmas,  as  they  say  they  can  rear  them  so  much  more  easily, 
and  greatly  prefer  them. 


110  DIFFERENT    BREEDS    OF    FOWLS. 

"As  to  their  size,  I  cannot  agree  with  those  who  think 
1  breeding  for  colour'  detracts  necessarily  from  this  point.  I 
have  had  a  cock  weighing  fifteen  pounds,  and  hens  twelve 
pounds,  but  these  are  very  unusual  weights.  I  have,  however, 
two  cockerels  of  this  year  (1866),  only  six  and  a  half  months 
old,  one  of  which  weighs  ten  and  three  quarter  pounds,  and 
the  other  eleven  and  a  quarter  pounds.  The  latter  I  weighed 
off  a  grass  run.  He  is  the  largest  for  his  age  I  ever  bred,  and 
I  am  confident  he  will  next  year  weigh  fifteen  to  sixteen 
pounds,  or  even  more.  I  consider  twelve  to  thirteen  pounds 
for  a  cock  and  nine  to  ten  pounds  for  a  hen  very  good  weights. 
Cockerels  for  exhibition,  when  six  months  old,  ought  to  weigh 
from  eight  to  eight  and-a-half  pounds,  and  pullets  from  six  to 
seven  pounds. 

"  In  breeding,  it  is  necessary  to  be  very  sure  the  stock  for 
generations  back  has  not  been  crossed.  I  would  then  select 
the  most  perfect  cock  I  could  procure  at  any  price,  not  less 
than  twelve  pounds  weight,  and  mate  him  with  either  three 
pullets,  or  three  hens  a  year  old :  if  hens,  to  weigh  at  least  nine 
pounds  j  if  pullets,  eight  pounds.  Each  bird  to  be  entirely  free 
from  vulture-hocks  or  brown-red  feathers.  From  such  parent- 
age there  will  be  little  disappointment." 

Mr.  Fo  Wragg,  the  manager  of  Mr.  Boyle's  yard,  adds  the 
following  valuable  practical  remarks  on  the  breeding  of  Dark 
Brahmas  : — 

"I  would  on  no  account  breed  from  birds  with  faulty 
combs,  or  the  slightest  twist  in  the  tail,  as  such  defects  are 
most  surely  transmitted  to  a  large  proportion  of  their  progeny. 
I  would  also  reject  a  cock  with  '  splashes'  of  white  on  his 
breast,  or  a  hen  with  very  dingy  brown  in  the  feathers. 

"I  select,  if  possible,  a  cock  with  perfectly  black  breast, 
thighs,  and  fluff,  and  other  qualities  well  defined,  two  years 
old,  and  twelve  pounds  in  weight.  I  would  put  him  with 
three  pullets,  their  first  season,  square-built,  short-legged  birds, 


BRAHMAS.  Ill 

with  broad-striped  hackles,  small  and  perfectly  straight  combs, 
and  perfect  in  feathering.  By  this  I  mean  that  each  feather 
should  be  most  distinctly  pencilled ;  and  I  am  most  particular 
that  on  the  breast  especially  every  single  feather  right  up  to 
the  throat  should  show  four  or  five  distinct  half  circles  of  black 
on  the  same  ground  colour  as  the  rest  of  the  body.  Let  the 
pullets  be  nine  pounds  weight.  Breed  from  such  birds,  and 
nearly  half  the  chickens  will  be  fit  for  exhibition. 

"  I  wish  to  repeat,  that  for  breeding  I  select  a  cock  with  all 
the  underparts  perfectly  black  For  exhibition,  either  the 
same  colour  or  a  little  white  mottling  will  do.  A  mottled 
cock  looks  best.  I  especially  dislike  to  see  the  '  fluff '  on  the 
cock's  thighs  with  white  in  it.  Many  of  the  chickens  from  such 
a  parent  would  be  very  bad  in  colour,  showing  light  '  streaky* 
feathers  on  the  breast." 

Joseph  Hinton,  Esq.,  of  Hinton,  near  Bath,  one  of  the 
earliest  breeders  of  Dark  Brahmas,  adds  a  few  remarks  which 
also  deserve  attention. 

"  I  have  always  striven,"  he  says,  "  to  keep  Brahmas  from 
being  considered  birds  of  colour  only.  The  chief  point  in  judging 
should  be  form,  then  size,  then  comb  and  colour.  Body  to  be 
as  broad  and  deep  as  possible  :  legs  stout  and  wide  apart,  and 
cannot  be  too  short,  or  too  well  feathered.  The  leg  feathering 
ought  to  be  abundant  from  the  very  hock.  To  see  a  nearly 
bare  shank,  even  with  a  well-feathered  foot,  is  very  unsightly. 
I  prefer  a  slight  tendency  to  vulture-hock — that  is,  an 
abundance  of  soft  curling  feathers,  projecting  over  the  hock 
*nd  hiding  the  joint :  a  naked  hock  to  me  is  an  abomination. 
Knock-knees  also,  which  frequently  occur  in  cockerels,  are 
veiy  objectionable. 

"  As  to  colour,  I  prefer  myself  the  clear  grey,  but  it  is 
unfortunately  liable  to  lightness  on  the  breast.  For  this  reason 
many  breeders  prefer  a  reddish-brown  breast,  but  I  myself 
should  object  to  the  reddish  tinge. 


112  DIFFERENT   BREEDS    OF   FOWLS. 

"It  is  also  objectionable  when  the  flight  or  primary  quills 
in  the  cock's  wing  are  not  well  tucked  under  the  outside  part 
of  the  wing,  though  I  think  they  have  laid  too  much  stress  on 
this  point  in  the  'Standard  of  Excellence.'*  The  fault  is  rarely 
seen  in  the  master  cock  of  the  yard,  and  I  believe  it  therefore 
to  occur  from  the  efforts  of  the  junior  birds  to  save  them- 
selves from  punishment  by  the  '  king  of  the  walk.1  In  such 
struggles  the  wing  is  rapidly  extended,  and  then  often  not 
fairly  returned.  In  time  this  becomes  a  habit,  and  greatly 
inars  the  beauty  of  the  bird." 

The  latter  fault  alluded  to  is  unfortunately  too  frequent. 
It  can,  however,  be  cured  by  carefully  returning  every  feather 
to  its  proper  place,  and  then  tying  twine  round  the  end  of 
the  wing,  to  prevent  the  bird  from  opening  it  till  the  feathers 
.are  re-set  into  their  position.  About  a  month  will  ensure  this ; 
and  in  the  meantime  the  bird  must  of  course  sleep  on  straw, 
as  it  cannot  fly. 

Mr.  Hinton's  remarks  on  colour  lead  us  to  almost  the 
only  disputed  point  in  this  breed.  Mr.  Lacy,  and  other 
eminent  breeders,  avowedly  prefer  a  decided  brown  ground 
colour  for  the  hens,  for  reasons  which  we  will  give  in  his  own 
words  : — 

"  I  have  been  a  breeder  of  Dark  Pencilled  Brahmas,"  he 
says,  "  for  fifteen  years,  ten  of  which  I  kept  them  in  America, 
where  they  are  the  favourite  fowls  amongst  farmers  and 
planters.  I  began  by  purchasing  the  best  I  could  find,  which 
were  beautifully  symmetrical  in  shape,  and  very  large,  the  cock 
weighing  thirteen  pounds,  and  the  hens  nine  pounds  each. 
The  colour  of  the  hens  was  as  follows  :  neck-hackle  white, 
streaked  with  black ;  saddle  and  wings  a  beautifully  pencilled 

*  We  rather  agree  with  the  "  Standard  "  in  this  matter.  The  first 
prize  cock  at  Birmingham  last  year  (1866)  had  the  defect  alluded  to,  and 
the  award  of  the  judges  was  condemned  by  every  breeder  at  the  show  on 
that  very  ground,  though  the  bird  was  very  fair  otherwise. 


BRAHMAS.  113 

brown,  the  ground  colour  being  the  dark,  with  lighter  mark- 
ings of  a  quarter-moon  shape  on  each  feather ;  breast  a  lighf- 
salmon-coloured  ground,  with  dark  pencillings  of  the  same 
quarter-moon  shape,  forming  the  most  beautiful  contrast  of 
the  two  colours  imaginable.  The  fluff  had  also  the  brown 
tinge. 

"  This  colour  I  have  striven  to  produce  and  sustain  in  my 
strain  of  birds,  breeding  as  they  do  much  more  true  to  colour 
than  the  grey  variety.  This  last,  I  believe,  has  been  introduced 
by  some  cross,  as  I  have  obtained  grey  pullets  from  other  yards 
whose  produce  has  been  mixed,  whilst  they  themselves  have 
moulted  to  the  brown  shade  and  sometimes  even  to  the  red. 
Besides  this,  the  great  difficulty  of  producing  light-breasted 
pullets  cannot  be  got  rid  of  in  grey  birds ;  because,  having,  as 
I  believe,  been  crossed  with  a  lighter  colour,  they  will '  throw  out' 
a  majority  of  inferior  birds.  I  do  not,  however,  like  a  reddish- 
brown  colour ;  nor  will  any  breeder  be  troubled  with  it,  provided 
he  uses  proper  discretion  in  the  selection  of  his  breeding  stock." 

Others  maintain  that  the  brown  colour  referred  to  is  a 
blemish,  and  we  must  ourselves  side  with  this  view.  But, 
whether  we  are  right  or  wrong  in  this,  it  is  certain  that  the 
variation  in  opinion  is  most  unfortunate ;  for  the  difference  of 
colour  does  not  at  all  appear  in  the  cocks,  and  hence  there 
is  always  great  danger,  in  purchasing  a  male  bird,  of  injuring 
the  pencilling  which  may  be  preferred.  Each  school,  however, 
has  a  right  to  its  own  fancy,  and  we  can  only  advise  the 
utmost  care  in  every  introduction  of  fresh  blood  that  may  be 
made,  that  the  tinge  of  the  strain  purchased  corresponds  with 
that  already  in  the  yard.  It  is  to  neglect  of  this  precaution  so 
many  bad  coloured,  mottled,  and  "streaky"  birds  owe  their 


*  The  above  remarks  refer  to  Brahmas  as  they  are  now  exhibited  and 
judged.  But  we  must  remark  that  the  birds  formerly  shown  so  success- 
fully for  several  yoars  together  by  Mr.  R.  Teebay,  at  Birmingham,  and 

I 


114  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF    FOWLS. 

"  Yulture  hocks "  have  also  occasioned  considerable  dis- 
cussion. The  "  Standard  of  Excellence  "  states  that  they  are 
to  be  considered  objectionable,  but  not  a  disqualification. 
Many  breeders  defend  them,  as  being  always  more  or  less 
associated  with  heavy  shank-feathering;  but  all  first-class 
judges  at  present  seem  agreed  to  absolutely  disqualify  any 
pen  in  which  vulture-hocked  birds  appear,  though  soft  curling 
feathers  tucked  in  nicely  round,  and  hiding  the  joint,  are 
decidedly  to  be  preferred. 

The  precision  of  the  pencilling  is  very  important,  on  the 
breast  especially,  but  has  hitherto  been  overlooked  in  every 
published  description  of  Brahmas.  Every  feather  should  be 
distinctly  pencilled  across  several  times  with  black,  as  are  the 
pencilled  Hamburgh  s,  but  more  minutely,  on  a  dull  white 
ground.  On  the  breast  the  marking  should  be  equally  distinct 
and  abundant,  but  it  there  follows  the  outline  of  the  feather, 
and  becomes  a  series  of  four  or  five  "  lacings,"  one  within  the 
other.  By  the  kindness  of  an  eminent  exhibitor  and  breeder 
of  this  variety  we  are  enabled  to  give  engravings  of  actual 
feathers  taken  from  very  perfect  prize  birds,  which  will  illus- 
trate this.  (See plate  of  "Feathers,"  p.  101.)  No.  6  is  a  feather 
from  the  centre  of  a  pullet's  breast  j  No.  7  is  from  the  flat  of 
the  wing ;  No.  8  from  the  coverts  of  the  tail.  Birds  thus 
pencilled  are  of  exquisite  beauty,  but  second-rate  specimens 

many  other  shows,  were  much  darker  than  now,  the  dark  pencilling  being 
ao  dense  and  black  as  to  have  quite  a  metallic  green  shade,  which  we  have 
«ot  now  seen  in  hens  for  some  time.  The  pullets  are  probably  bred 
lighter  through  selecting  cocks  as  free  as  possible  from  any  red  or  bronze 
in  the  wing  coverts,  some  amount  of  which  appears  essential  to  breeding 
dark  birds.  We  simply  note  this  change  to  a  lighter  shade  as  one  too 
important  to  pass  over;  whether  it  be  of  itself  any  deterioration  is,  of 
course,  a  fair  subject  for  difference  of  opinion.  But  many  experienced 
breeders  will  also  note  changes  in  shape,  and  other  characteristics — 
the  result  of  various  crosses,  and  which  certainly  are  not  improve- 
ments. 


BRAHMAS.  115 

ofton  show  a  cloudy,  indistinct  mass  of  minute  and  confused 
markings!,  which  are  far  inferior  in  a]  p  ;arance. 

At  a  show  held  at  Oswestiy  last  year  (186G)  a  pen  of 
Brahmas  was  shown  in  the  "Light"  Class,  of  which  the  two 
pullets  were  beautifully  laced  on  the  breast,  with  all  the 
precision  of  a  Silver  Sebright  Bantam.  The  effect  was  very 
pretty  indeed,  and  we  hope  the  variety  may  be  perpetuated. 

Little  more  need  be  added.  With  regard  to  the  merits 
of  Brahmas,  they  must  certainly  rank  very  high.  In  size  the 
dark  variety  surpasses  every  other  breed  yet  known,  the 
heaviest  cock  ever  recorded,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  having 
attained  the  enormous  weight  of  eighteen  pounds,  and  thirteen 
and  fourteen  being  not  uncommon  at  good  shows  j  though  only 
good  strains  reach  this  weight,  and  miserable  specimens  are 
often  seen  which  are  inferior  in  size  to  Cochins.  They  also 
lay  nearly  every  day,  even  in  the  depth  of  winter,  and  if 
jiure  bred,  scarcely  ever  sit  till  they  have  laid  at  least  thirty 
or  forty  eggs.  "When  they  sit  more  frequently,  the  hen  will 
usually  be  very  brown,  and  is,  we  believe,  crossed  with  the 
Shanghae.  As  winter  layers,  no  breed  equals  them.  We  are 
writing  at  the  end  of  November,  and  have  a  hen  which  has 
laid  forty-five  eggs  in  forty-eight  days,  whilst  others  are  little 
inferior.  Brahmas  are  likewise  very  hardy,  and  grow  uncommonly 
fast,  being  therefore  very  early  ready  for  table,  in  which  par- 
ticular they  are  profitable  fowls,  having  plenty  of  breast-meat. 
They  bear  confinement  as  well  as  Cochins,  being,  however,  far 
more  sprightly ;  and  scarcely  ever,  like  them,  get  out  of  con- 
dition from  over-feeding. 

The  flesh,  however,  though  better  than  that  of  Cochins,  is 
much  inferior,  after  six  months,  to  that  of  the  Dorking ;  and 
this  is  their  only  real  fault  •  but  a  cross  with  a  Crevdcceur  or 
Dorking  cock  produces  the  most  splendid  table  fowls  possible, 
carrying  almost  incredible  quantities  of  meat  of  excellent 
•quality.  Such  a  cross  is  well  worth  the  attention  of  the  farmer. 

i  2 


116  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

On  the  whole,  there  is  no  more  profitable  fowl  "all  round" 
than  the  Brahina  ;  and  a  few  hens  at  least  should  form  part  of 
the  stock  of  every  moderate  yard. 


CHAPTER    XIIL 

MALAYS. 

THE  Malay  was  the  first  introduced  of  the  gigantic  Asiatic 
breeds,  and  in  stature  exceeds  that  of  any  yet  known.  The 
cock  weighs  or  should  weigh  from  nine  to  eleven  pounds^ 
and  when  fully  grown  should  stand  at  least  two  feet  six  inches 
high.  But  the  general  size  of  this  breed  has  of  late  greatly 
deteriorated. 

In  form  and  make  Malays  are  as  different  from  Cochins 
as  can  well  be.  They  are  exceedingly  long  in  the  neck  and 
legs,  and  the  carriage  is  so  upright  that  the  back  forms  a 
steep  inclina  The  wings  are  carried  high,  and  project  very 
much  at  the  shoulders.  Towards  the  tail,  on  the  contrary, 
the  body  becomes  narrow — the  conformation  being  thus  exactly 
opposite  to  that  of  the  Shanghae.  The  tail  is  small,  and  that 
of  the  cock  droops. 

The  plumage  is  very  close,  firm,  and  glossy,  more  so  than 
that  of  any  other  breed,  and  giving  to  the  bird  a  peculiar 
lustre  when  viewed  in  the  light.  The  colours  vary  very 
much.  We  consider  pure  white  the  most  beautiful  of  all  ; 
but  the  most  usual  is  that  well  known  under  the  title  of 
brown-breasted  red  game.  The  legs  are  yellow,  but  quite 
naked. 

The  head  and  beak  are  long,  the  latter  being  rather  hooked. 
Comb  low  and  flat,  covered  with  small  prominences  like  wart& 


MALAYS.  117 

Wattles  and  deaf-ears  very  small.  Eye  usually  yellow.*  The 
whole  face  and  great  part  of  the  throat  are  red  aud  naked,  and 
the  whole  expression  "  snaky "  and  cruel  This  is  not  belied 
by  the  real  character  of  the  breed,  which  is  most  ferocious,  even 
more  so  than  Game  fowls,  though  inferior  to  the  latter  ia  real 
courage. 

Malays  are  subject  to  an  evil  habit  of  eating  each  other's 
feathers,  a  propensity  which  often  occurs  in  close  confinement, 
and  can  only  be  cured  by  turning  them  on  to  a  grass  run  of 
tolerable  extent,  and  giving  plenty  of  lettuce  with  an  occasional 
purgative. 

The  chickens  are  delicate,  but  the  adult  birds  are  hardy 
enough.  They  appear  especially  adapted  to  courts  and  alleys, 
and  may  not  unfrequently  be  seen  in  such  localities  in 
London. 

The  principal  merit  of  Malays  is  as  table  fowls.  Skinny 
as  they  appear,  the  breast,  wings,  and  merrythought  together 
carry  more  meat  than  perhaps  any  other  breed;  and,  when 
under  a  year  old,  of  very  good  quality  and  flavour.  They  also 
make  good  crosses  with  several  breeds.  Mated  with  the 
Dorking  they  produce  splendid  fowls  for  the  table,  which  also 
lay  well ;  and  with  the  Spanish,  though  both  parents  are  long- 
legged,  the  result  is  most  usually  a  short-legged  bird  of  peculiar 
beauty  in^the  plumage,  good  for  the  table,  and,  if  a  hen,  a 
remarkably  good  sitter  and  mother.  They  have  also  been 
extensively  crossed  with  the  English  Game  fowl,  in  order  to 
increase  the  strength,  size,  ferocity,  and  hardness  of  feather. 

*  The  "  Standard"  says  the  eye  should  be  fiery  red,  but  this  is  most 
decidedly  wrong.  We  should,  of  course,  hesitate  to  state  positively  that 
a  "red  eye0  has  never  been  seen;  but  we  do  say  we  never  saw  one,  and 
doubt  if  any  one  else  ever  did,  at  all  events  lately.  An  eminent  breeder 
ef  this  variety  informed  us  that  the  native  fanciers  in  India  preferred  a 
pearly  or  white  eye  ;  but  that  there  also  he  knew  on  good  authority  the  rod 
eye  was  unknown,  except  in  very  rare  instances.  How  the  "  Standard  '* 
came  to  give  "red"  eyes  as  a  point,  is  a  mystery. 


118  DIFFERENT   BREEDS    OF   FOWLS. 

The  great  drawback  of  Malays  is  their  abominably  quarrel- 
some disposition,  which  becomes  worse  the  more  they  are  con- 
fined. The  hens  are  also  inferior  as  layers  to  most  other 
breeds ;  and  on  these  accounts  the  pure  strain  is  not  adapted  to 
general  use,  though  useful  in  giving  weight  and  good  "  wings  " 
to  other  varieties  of  fowl. 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

GAME. 

No  variety  of  fowl  has  been  so  enthusiastically  cultivated  by 
amateurs  as  the  Game,  and  in  none  perhaps  is  there  so  much 
room  for  legitimate  difference  of  opinion.  The  varieties  are 
legion,  and  to  describe  every  one  would  be  hopeless,  except  in  a 
work  specially  devoted  to  the  purpose ;  we  shall  therefore  only 
give  descriptions  of  the  leading  breeds,  as  written  for  this  work 
by  Trevor  Dickens,  Esq.,*  of  London,  one  of  the  most  eminent 
authorities  in  England  on  all  points  connected  with  the  Game 
fowl. 

"The  Game  cock,  as  the  undisputed  king  of  all  poultry, 
requires  more  careful  judging  in  regard  to  shape,  -than  any 
other  bird.  The  Brown-reds  have  long  been  most  perfect  in 
outline  j  but  the  following  description  will  apply  to  a  perfect 
bird  of  any  breed. 

"  The  beak  should  be  strong,  curved,  long,  and  sharp  ;  the 
comb  single,  small,  and  thin,  low  in  front,  erect,  and  evenly 
serrated ;  it  is  usually  red,  but  sometimes  darkish  red.  Head 
long  and  sharp,  with  the  face  and  throat  lean  and  thin.  Ear- 
lobes  small  and  red,  never  whitish.  Neck  long,  strong,  and 

*  Well  known  for  his  annotations  on  the  breeds  of  Game  in  the  Poultry 
Chronicle,  under  the  signature  of  "  Newmarket." 


GAME. 

well  arched ;  the  hackle  short,  hard,  close,  firm,  and  broad  in 
the  feather.  Back  short,  and  very  hard  both  in  flesh  and 
feather ;  broad  at  shoulders,  narrow  at  tail,  and  rounded  at  the 
sides.  Breast  broad  and  very  hard,  but  not  by  any  means  too 
lean  or  too  full — the  last  would  be  useless  weight ;  a  good  hard 
breast  is  most  essential,  as  it  is  the  most  vulnerable  part  of  the 
bird.  The  rump  should  be  narrow,  neat,  and  short,  the  saddle 
feathers  close,  hard,  and  short.  Wings  very  strong,  and  of  a  just 
medium  length,  well  rounded  to  the  body,  and  carried  neither 
high  nor  low,  but  so  as  to  protect  the  thighs.  Very  long- 
winged  birds  are  usually  too  long  in  the  body,  and  short-winged 
birds  too  broad  in  the  stem.  Tail  neither  long  nor  short,  but 
medium  length,  and  carried  erect  to  show  good  spirit,  but  not 
1  squirrel-fashion '  over  the  back ;  it  should  be  well  *  fanned,* 
or  spreading,  and  the  sickle  feathers  of  a  good  round  full  curve, 
and  standing  clearly  above  the  points  of  the  quill  tail-feathers.* 
Very  long- tailed  birds  are  soft  and  long-bodied,  and  short- 
tailed  birds  are  too  short-winged,  and  often  have  broad  rumps. 
Thighs  short  f  and  very  muscular,  hard,  and  firm ;  placed  well 
wide  apart,  and  well  up  to  the  shoulders,  in  order  to  give  a  fine 
fore-hand  and  make  the  bird  stand  firm  on  his  legs;  which  latter 
should  be  sufficiently  long,  but  not  too  much  so,  and  placed  wide 
apart  as  the  thighs.  Spurs  low  down,  long,  sharp,  and  rather 
thin ;  a  little  curved  upwards,  and  not  turning  in  too  much.  Feet 
flat,  broad,  spreading,  and  thin ;  the  claws  and  nails  straight, 
long,  and  strong ;  the  back  claw  especially  long  and  flat  to  the 
ground,  to  give  a  firm  footing.  The  whole  plumage  should  be 
very  clo.se,  short,  and  hard,  with  glossy  reflections,  and  the 

*  Many  breeders,  especially  in  Yorkshire  and  London,  prefer  close  or 
folded  tails.  But,  as  a  rule,  the  well  raised  and  spread  tail  shows  more 
spirit,  if  not  clumsy,  which  is  of  course  bad. 

t  The  "Standard  of  Excellence"  says  "racier  short."  This  is 
decide- :ly  -lot  emphatic  enough  to  denote  the  proper  proportions  in  a  good 
cook.  Sute  by  A  uthor. 


120  DIFFERENT   BREEDS    OF   FOWLS 

quills  or  stems  strong  and  elastic.  Body  in  Land  short  and 
very  hard,  and  the  general  carriage  upright,  quick,  fierce,  and 
sharp.  The  back  is  best  rather  curved,  provided  it  be  flat 
crosswise,  and  not  hump-backed  or  lop-sided.  Weight  for 
exhibition,  4J  to  /) J  Ibs. ;  for  the  pit,  not  over  4 J  Ibs. 

"The  hen  should  correspond  in  form,  but  of  course  in 
proportion,  hardness  of  flesh  and  feather,  with  shortness  of  body, 
being  main  points.  Good  hens  generally  become  spurred,  and 
such  breed  the  hardest  and  best  cocks.  The  proper  weight  of 
a  hen  is  from  3  to  3J  Ibs. 

"A  short  or  clumsy  head,  short  or  soft  neck,  long  body, 
narrow  shoulders,  long  thighs,  legs  set  close  together,  loose  or 
soft  plumage,  and  especially  what  is  known  as  a  '  duck  foot,' 
are  serious  defects.  It  should  be  remembered  that  a  Game  fowl 
is  always  judged  mainly  in  reference  to  its  fighting  qualities, 
and  anything  which  interferes  with  them  is  a  fault  in  the  bird. 

"  With  respect  to  the  varieties  of  Game,  the  sorts  which 
take  nearly  all  the  prizes  and  cups  are  the  Brown-red,  Black- 
breasted  Red,  Silver  Duck-wing  Greys,  and  Piles,  all  which 
are  cup-birds. 

"  The  Brown-red  is  essentially  dark  in  blood,  the  eyes  being 
a  very  dark  brown,  with  the  comb  and  face  inclining  to  a  dark 
gipsy  purple,  and  the  beak  dark  also.  Breast  of  the  cock  a 
i%ed-brown,  shoulders  sometimes  passing  into  a  rich  crange-red 
colour.  Wing-butts  of  a  dusky  or  dark  smoky  brown,  and 
general  colour  a  dark  red.  Legs  dark  iron-brown  or  blackish 
bronze,  with  dark  talons.  Hackle  with  dark  stripes,  and  thighs 
like  the  breast.  The  tail  a  dark  greenish  black,  and  the  wing 
is  often  crossed  with  a  glossy  green  bar.  The  general  colour  of 
the  hen  is  very  dark  brown,  grained  or  pencilled  with  lighter 
brown;  her  neck-hackle  a  dark  golden  copper-red,  thickly 
striped  with  dark  stripes  ',  and  her  comb  and  face  darker  than 
in  the  cock  bird.  Good  hens  are  usually  spurred,  and  their 
tail  feathers  show  a  slight  curve. 


'  M   -?V.'|  '/-I  i  >-\  '•  ' 


GAME  .  121 

"  The  Brown-red  breeds  are  most  esteemed  in  the  Midland 
Counties,  and  at  the  principal  shows  take  most  cups.  They 
are  also  the  favourite  breed  with  sportsmen,  and  are  best  in 
shape  of  all ;  but  like  all  the  dark-combed  varieties,  are  not 
such  good  layers  as  those  with  bright  red  combs. 

"  Black-breasted  Reds  are  essentially  red-blooded  birds,  tho 
plumage  being  generally  a  bright  red,  rather  deeper  on  the  body 
than  in  the  hackle,  lied  eyes  are  absolutely  essential  to  good 
birds,  all  others  being  inferior  and  infallibly  denoting  a  cross. 
The  cock's  wings  are  bright  red  in  the  upper  part,  and  rich  red 
chestnut  in  the  lower,  with  a  steel  blue  bar  across ;  breast  bluish 
black,  with  glossy  reflections ;  thighs  the  same ;  tail  greenish 
black,  the  feathers  without  much  down  at  the  roots.  The  comb 
and  wattles  of  all  Black-reds  must  be  bright  red,  and  the  legs 
are  usually  willow  colour  in  cup  birds,  though  any  leg  will  do 
if  the  birds  are  bright  in  colour,  and  have  red  eyes.  The 
general  colour  of  the  hen  is  a  rich  red  partridge-brown,  with  a 
red  fawn-coloured  breast,  and  reddish  golden  hackle  with  dark 
stripes ;  the  cock's  hackle  also  is  striped  underneath,  but  clear 
above.  Spurred  hens  are  the  best,  but  are  not  so  frequent  as 
in  the  preceding  variety. 

"  Silver  Duck-wing  Greys  are  purer  in  blood  than  the 
Yellow  or  Birchen  Duck-wings,  and  are  white-skinned  when 
of  pure  breed.  General  colour  of  the  cock,  a  silver  grey  ; 
hackle  striped  with  black  underneath,  but  clear  above;  back 
a  clear  silver  grey ;  breast  either  bluish  black  or  clear  mealy 
silver  colour;  wing  crossed  with  a  steel-blue  bar,  and  the 
lower  part  of  a  creamy  white  ;  tail  greenish  glossy  black.  Hen 
a  silvery  bluish  grey,  thickly  frosted  with  silver ;  breast  a  pale 
fawn-colour ;  neck-hackle  silvery  white,  striped  with  black. 
The  comb  and  face  in  both  sexes  are  bright  red.  The  legs  may 
be  either  white,  blue,  or  willow  ;  but  of  course  the  whole  pen 
must  match,  and  white  leg  to  silver  feathering  is  certainly  the 
most  correct  match.  Willow  is,  however,  most  common  in 


122  DIFFERENT  BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

the  legs,  but  least  pure  in  blood  ;  the  white  or  blue-legged  birds 
being  the  true-bred  Silver  Duck- wings.  Eyes  should  be  red  in 
Willow  and  Blue-legged  strains,  and  yellow  in  Yellow  and 
White-legged  strains  in  all  the  Duck- wing  Game  fowls. 

"  The  Yellow  Duck-wings  are  similar  to  the  above  except  in 
the  straw-colour  or  birchen  tinge,  and  the  copper- coloured 
saddle.  They  have  yellow  skins,  and  willow  or  yellow  legs. 
In  this  variety  the  cock's  breast  is  always  black,  the  hen's  a 
pale  fawn  colour,  whilst  the  silver  hen  often  has  a  clear  mealy 
or  silver  breast  instead  of  fawn. 

"  Red  eyes  and  willow  legs  are  the  only  correct  colours  for 
prize  Duck- wings.  Bright  red  eyes  and  white  legs  for  prize 
Piles. 

"  The  colour  called  Piles  consists,  in  the  cock,  of  a  bright 
red  piled  on  a  white  ground,  the  hackle  being  red  and  white 
striped ;  the  back  is  chiefly  red,  and  the  breast  mostly  white, 
but  often  with  red  markings ;  the  tail  should  be  white,  but  a 
few  red  feathers  are  not  amiss ;  black  in  the  tail,  as  seen  in  the 
Worcestershire  Piles,  is,  however,  very  objectionable.  The  hens 
are  red-streaked  or  veined  on  a  white  ground,  the  breast  redder 
than  the  cock,  and  the  tail  white,  with  a  few  red  feathers 
occasionally.  The  reddest  Piles  are  the  best  birds,  and  prize 
pens  should  be  selected  with  bright  red  eyes  and  white  legs. 

"  Whites  should  have  bright  red  eyes,  and  white  legs  are 
essential. 

"  Black  Game  fowls  should  have  black  eyes  and  bluish  black 
legs — have  won  a  few  cups. 

"Dark  Greys  ought  always  to  have  black  eyes  and  legs. 
The  hens  are  very  dark. 

"  The  original  wild  varieties  of  Game  fowls  are  three  : — (1.) 
The  Black-breasted  Red,  with  fawn-breasted  partridge  hens ; 
(2.)  Brown- breasted  Reds,  with  dark  legs,  and  dark  brown  (not 
black)  hens;  and  (3.)  Rsd-breasted  Ginger  Reds  with  yellow  legs, 
and  the  hens  a  light  partridge  colour.  These  three  colours 


GAME.  123 

were  probably  reclaimed  at  a  very  early  period,  and  are  still 
found  in  India  as  wild  birds.  From  them  all  tlie  other  colours 
were  originally  bred;  the  varieties  hatching  dark  chickens  from 
the  brown  or  dark  reds,  and  all  others  from  the  other  two 
sorts.  These  varieties  can  be  merely  named,  and  are  most 
conveniently  classed  thus,  according  to  the  colour  of  their 
chickens  when  hatched  : — 


LIGHT  CHICKENS. 

1.  Whites. 

2.  Piles. 

3.  Blue  Duns. 

4.  Eed  Duns. 


STBIPED  CHICKENS. 

5.  Black-breasted  Beds. 

6.  Bed-breasted  Ginger  Beds. 

7.  Duck-wings. 

8.  Yellow  Birchens. 


DARK  CHICKENS* 

10.  Brown  Beds. 

11.  Dark  Greys. 

12.  Dark  Birchens, 

13.  Black. 


9.  Mealy  Greys. 

"  There  are  also  four  other  varieties  not  generally  known, 
called  Red  Furnaces,  Cuckoos,  Spangles,  and  Polecats,  making 
at  least  seventeen  well-defined  sorts  of  Game  fowls ;  but  besides 
these,  there  are  at  least  twenty-seven  named  sub- varieties,  or 
forty-four  in  alL  To  describe  these  in  detail  would  be  useless, 
uud  I  shall  only,  therefore,  add  the  following  general  remarks  : — 

"  The  best  criterion  of  blood  in  all  Game  fowls  is  the  colour 
of  tJie  eyes,  a  point  which  has  been,  strange  to  say,  totally  over- 
looked in  every  work  on  poultry  hitherto  published.  Black 
eyes  show  dark  blood,  and  the  hens  of  such  strains  lay  white 
eggs.  Red  eyes  denote  red  blood,  and  lay  pinkish  eggs.  Yelloio 
or  daw  eyes  lay  yellowish  eggs.  These  last  are  inferior  in 
spirit  to  the  others.  Brown  and  bay  eyes  result  from  crossing 
different  breeds. 

"  The  only  sorts  of  much  use  for  fighting  are  those  with 
black  or  red  eyes,  and  the  three  varieties  now  usually  employed 
are  the  Brown-breasted  Reds,  Dark  Greys  (which  are  strongest 
and  hardiest  of  all),  and  Black-breasted  Reds,  with  white  legs 
and  dark  red  eyes.  The  sorts  which  fight  the  quickest  are, 
however,  the  Red  Cheshire  Piles,  with  bright  red  eyes  and 
white  legs,  the  Red-breasted  Ginger  Reds,  with  bright  red  eyes 


124  DIFFERENT    BREEDS    OF    FOWLS. 

and  yellow  legs,  and  Whites,  with  white  legs  and  bright  red 
eyes  ;  but  they  have  not  quite  so  much  strength  and  power  of 
endurance.  The  Black-breasted  Reds  with  willow  legs  are 
generally  too  slow  and  soft  for  the  pit,  as  are  the  Blacks  also. 

"  The  best  layers  are  the  Black-breasted  Reds  with  willow 
legs,  the  hens  being  partridge  colour ;  and  Red  Cheshire  Piles 
with  white  legs.  The  worst  layers  are  the  greys,  Dark  Greys 
and  Dark  Birchens  being  worst  of  all.  With  the  exception  of 
these,  Game  fowls  lay  remarkably  well,  and  in  favourable 
circumstances  will,  I  believe,  surpass  any  breed.  My  willow- 
legged  Black-breasted  Red  hens  have  averaged  from  211  to 
284  eggs  per  annum.  To  reach  this,  however,  they  will 
require  a  good  run,  but  if  well  attended  to,  are  always  good 
layers.  It  is  worth  remarking  that  yellow  and  blue-legged 
birds  generally  lay  best  in  all  poultry. 

"  Game  cock  chickens  should  be  shown  undulbed ;  but  at 
their  first  Christmas  they  become  'stags,'  and  should  then 
have  their  comb  and  wattles  taken  neatly  and  closely  off  with 
a  very  sharp  pair  of  scissors. 

"  Different  varieties  ought  not  to  be  crossed,  but  kept  dis- 
tinct. In  breeding,  either  for  stock  or  exhibition,  nothing  is  so 
•necessary  as  to  have  a  good  proportion  of  cocks.  There  should 
foe  one  to  every  six  hens  at  least ;  and  as  in  a  large  yard  it  is 
impossible,  from  their  pugnacity,  to  keep  more  than  one  full- 
grown  brood  cock,  there  should  be  a  good  supply  of  fine  young 
birds  or  'stags'  kept  under  him,  and  breeding  with  the  hens, 
when  all  the  eggs  will  be  fecundated,  and  the  chicks  vigorous 
and  healthy.  This  is  the  only  way  of  breeding  good  stock  from 
a  large  yard ;  and  it  is  of  course  preferable,  when  practicable,  to 
keep  each  cock  to  his  own  limited  family  of  hens.  Pullets  ought 
never  to  be  bred  from  at  all,  and  should  be  kept  away  from  the 
cocks,  using  their  eggs  for  household  purposes.  Good  old  birds 
will  always  breed  strong  chickens,  and  in  this  breed  it  scarcely 
matters  how  old  they  are  so  long  as  they  remain  strong  and 


GAME.  125 

healthy.  The  breeding  pens  should  be  selected  with  great 
care,  not  from  the  largest,  but  from  the  best-shaped  and  strongest 
birds.  The  more  cock  chicks  in  a  brood  the  better,  as  it  is 
always  an  evidence  of  strength  and  vigour  in  the  strain ;  and 
the  pullets,  though  fewer,  are  finer  and  handsomer  birds 
invariably. 

"Game  eggs  should  not  be  hatched  before  the  21st  of 
March,  nor  after  the  end  of  May.  This  breed  is  of  warmer 
blood  and  stronger  constitution  than  any  other,  and  the  chicks 
consequently  hatch  earlier,  often  breaking  the  shell  at  the  end 
of  the  nineteenth  day.  As  soon  as  they  begin  to  fight,  the 
cocks  should  be  separated,  and,  if  possible,  put  out  to  *  walk ' 
at  a  farm ;  the  pullets  will  rarely  injure  themselves,  and  their 
quarrels  are  only  amusing." 

To  the  foregoing  remarks  of  Mr.  Dickens — the  best  descrip- 
tion of  the  breed  ever  yet  published — we  shall  only  add  a  few 
sentences  on  the  general  qualities  of  Game  fowls.  Their  merits 
are  many  and  various.  In  elegance  of  shape,  in  hardihood,  in 
bold  and  fearless  spirit,  what  can  equal  them  1  But  besides 
these  recommendations,  they  rank,  as  already  stated,  in  the 
very  first  class  as  layers,  provided  only  they  have  a  good  run ; 
whilst  for  delicacy  of  flavour  their  flesh  is  confessedly  beyond 
any  comparison.  They  should  never  be  fatted,  being  too  im- 
patient to  bear  the  process  ;  but  if  eaten  just  as  taken  off  their 
runs  are  equal  to  the  pheasant.  They  also  eat  little,  and  are 
therefore  profitable  fowls,  whilst  as  mothers  the  hen  is  not  to 
be  equalled.  She  should  not  be  given  too  many  eggs,  on 
account  of  her  small  size  ;  but  she  will  hatch  her  full  comple- 
ment, and  when  hatched  will  take  good  care  of  them,  defending 
them  against  any  foe  to  the  last  gasp.  If  there  be  cats  in  the 
neighbourhood  commend  us  to  a  good  Game  hen. 

There  are,  however,  a  few  drawbacks.  The  size  of  both 
birds  and  eggs  is  small,  which  of  itself  makes  them  of  little 
value  as  a  market  fowl,  and  in  confinement  the  Game  hen  will 


12  G  DIFFERENT    BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

by  no  means  lay  so  well  as  Brahmas,  Spanish,  or  Hamburgh  <?. 
Their  pugnacious  disposition  also  disqualifies  them  for  small 
runs,  though  not  to  the  extent  generally  supposed. 

On  the  whole,  we  should  pronounce  this  breed  the  very  one 
for  a  country  gentleman,  who  can  give  his  fowls  ample  range ; 
and  it  will  in  such  circumstances  afford  a  constant  and  abundant 
supply  of  the  most  delicious  eggs  and  meat  to  be  obtained. 
Their  good  laying  qualities  may  also  recommend  them  to  the 
farmer  in  some  localities.  But  they  cannot  be  considered  a 
profitable  breed  for  domestic  purposes  in  general,  or  to  those 
whose  object  in  poultry-keeping  is  to  supply  the  market  with 
table  birds. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

DORKINGS. 

THIS  is  a  pre-eminently  English  breed  of  fowls,  and  is,  as  it 
always  will  be,  a  general  favourite,  especially  with  lady  fanciers. 
The  general  predilection  of  the  fair  sex  for  Dorkings  may  be 
easily  accounted  for,  not  only  by  the  great  beauty  of  all  the 
varieties,  but  even  more  perhaps  by  their  unrivalled  qualities  as 
table-birds — a  point  in  which  ladies  may  be  easily  supposed  to 
feel  a  peculiar  interest. 

The  varieties  of  Dorkings  usually  recognised  are  the  Grey 
or  Coloured,  Silver  Grey,  and  White.  We  believe  the  White  to 
be  the  original  breed,  from  which  the  coloured  varieties  were 
produced  by  crossing  with  the  old  Sussex  or  some  other  large 
coloured  fowl  That  such  was  the  case  is  almost  proved  by  the 
fact  that  only  a  few  years  ago  nothing  was  more  uncertain  than 
the  appearance  of  £he  fifth  toe  in  coloured  chickens,  even  of  the 
best  strains.  Such  uncertainty  in  any  important  point  is 
always  an  indication  of  mixed  blood  j  and  that  it  was  so  in  this 
case  is  shown  by  the  result  of  long  and  careful  breeding,  which 


DORKINGS.  127 

has  now  rendered  the  fifth  toe  permanent,  and  finally  established 
the  variety. 

In  no  breed  is  size,  form,  and  weight  so  much  regarded  in 
judging  the  merits  of  a  pen.  The  body  should  be  deep  and  full, 
the  breast  being  protuberant  and  plump,  especially  in  the  cock, 
whose  breast,  as  viewed  sideways,  ought  to  form  a  right  angle 
with  the  lower  part  of  his  body.  Both  back  and  breast  must 
be  broad,  the  latter  showing  no  approach  to  holiowness,  and  the 
entire  general  make  lull  and  plump,  but  neat  and  compact,, 
Hence  a  good  bird  should  weigh  more  than  it  appears  to  do. 
It  is  difficult  to  give  a  standard,  but  we  consider  that  a  cock 
which  weighed  less  than  10  Ibs.,  or  a  hen  under  8J  Ibs.,  would 
stand  a  poor  chance  at  a  first-class  show  ;  and  cocks  have  been 
shown  weighing  over  14  Ibs.  This  refers  to  the  coloured  variety. 
"White  Dorkings  have  degenerated,  and  are  somewhat  less. 

The  legs  must  be  white,  with  perhaps  a  slight  rosy  tinge ; 
and  it  is  imperative  that  each  foot  exhibits  behind  the  well- 
known  double  toe,  perfectly  developed,  but  not  running  into 
monstrosities  of  any  kind,  as  it  is  rather  prone  to  do.  An 
excessively  large  toe,  or  a  triple  toe,  or  the  fifth  toe  being  some 
distance  above  the  ordinary  one,  or  the  cock's  spurs  turning 
outward  instead  of  inward,  would  be  glaring  faults  in  a  show 
pen. 

The  comb  may,  in  coloured  birds,  be  either  single  or  double, 
but  all  in  one  pen  must  match.  The  single  comb  of  a  cock 
.should  be  large  and  perfectly  erect.  White  Dorkings  should 
have  double  or  rose  combs,  broad  in  front  at  the  beak,  and 
ending  in  a  raised  point  behind,  with  no  hollow  in  the  centre. 

In  the  Grey  variety  the  colour  is  not  material,  so  long  as 
the  two  hens  in  the  pen  match.  The  cock's  breast  may  be 
cither  black  or  mottled  with  white ;  the  hackle,  back,  and 
saddle  are  usually  white,  more  or  less  striped  with  black ;  and 
the  wing  we  like  best  to  see  nearly  white,  with  a  well-defined 
black  bar  across. 


128  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

In  the  Silver  Grey  Dorking,  however,  colour  is  imperative. 
This  variety,  there  is  not  the  slightest  doubt,  was  at  first  a 
chance  off-shoot  from  the  preceding,  but  has  been  perpetuated 
by  careful  breeding.  Coloured  birds  will  always  occasionally 
throw  silver-grey  chickens,  and  such  are  sometimes  exhibited 
as  "bred"  Silver  Greys;  but  it  is  needless  to  add  that  disappoint- 
ment is  sure  to  ensue,  unless  the  strain  has  been  kept  pure  for 
many  generations.  The  Silver  Grey  colour  is  as  follows  : — 
Cock's  breast  a  pure  and  perfect  black  ;  tail  and  larger  coverts 
also  black,  with  metallic  reflections;  head,  hackle,  back,  and 
saddle  feathers,  pure  silvery  white;  and  the  wing  bow  also 
white,  showing  up  well  a  sharply-marked  and  brilliant  bar  of 
black  across  the  middle.  A  single  white  feather  in  the  tail 
would  be  fatal.  Hen's  breast  salmon-red,  shading  into  grey  at 
the  thighs ;  head  and  neck  silvery  white  striped  with  black, 
back  "  silver  grey,"  the  white  of  the  quill  showing  as  a  white 
streak  down  the  centre  of  each  feather ;  wings  also  grey,  with 
no  shade  of  red ;  tail  dark  grey,  passing  into  black  in  the  inside. 
The  general  appearance  of  both  birds  should  be  extremely  clean 
and  aristocratic. 

The  white  birds  should  be  what  their  name  implies — a  clear, 
pure,  and  perfect  white.  There  is  generally  in  the  cock  more 
or  less  tendency  to  straw  or  cream  colour  on  the  back  and 
wings,  and  we  would  by  no  means  disqualify  a  really  first-class 
bird  in  all  other  points  on  account  of  it ;  but  it  is  decidedly  a 
fault. 

White  Dorkings  are  usually  much  smaller  than  the  coloured, 
which  we  believe  to  have  hindered  the  popularity  of  this  truly 
exquisite  variety.  It  has  often  occurred  to  us  that  this  defect 
might  be  easily  remedied  by  crossing  with  the  large  Grey 
Dorking,  and  then  breeding  back ;  and  on  a  recent  visit  to 
Linton  Park  we  saw  the  experiment  fairly  commenced,  with 
every  prospect  of  success.  A  good  white  cock  had  been  mated 
with  some  light- coloured  hens,  and  out  of  the  progeny  there 


DORKINGS.  129 

Appeared  six  or  seven  pure  white  chickens,  of  very  great  merit. 
Two  cockerels  attracted  our  special  attention ;  they  were  not 
six  months  old  when  we  saw  them,  but  they  were  fully  up  to 
the  Grey  Dorking  standard  of  size,  and  we  have  not  the  slightest 
doubt,  when  full  grown,  would  weigh  at  least  12  Ibs.  each, 
whilst  in  colour  they  were  quite  equal  to  their  parent.  We 
commend  this  method  of  increasing  the  size  to  all  White 
Dorking  fanciers.  We  have  also  known  a  cross  tried  with  the 
White  Cochin,  but  never  saw  a  bird  so  produced  that  was  fit  to 
look  at. 

We  cannot  let  the  subject  of  size  pass  without  alluding  to 
the  great  obligations  Dorking  breeders  are  under  to  Mr.  John 
Douglas.  By  careful  selection  of  stock,  and  close  attention, 
with  probably  the  help  of  a  cross,  he  succeeded  in  raising  the 
standard  of  this  breed  at  least  2  Ibs.  higher  than  had  ever  been 
known  before;  and  the  fowls  he  bred  have  never  yet  been 
surpassed. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  Dorkings  degenerate  more 
than  any  variety  from  interbreeding  ;  and,  if  fresh  blood  be  not 
introduced,  rapidly  decrease  in  size.  They  also  suffer  much 
from  frequent  exhibition,  not  bearing  confinement  welL  We 
are,  however,  inclined  to  think  that  in  some  degree  this 
arises  from  the  vicious  practice  of  over-feeding  the  birds,  to 
increase  their  weight,  before  showing;  and  we  cannot  help 
expressing  our  decided  opinion  that  judges  should  always  dis- 
qualify such  an  over-fed  pen,  however  meritorious  otherwise. 
No  less  is  due  to  the  public,  who  not  unfrequently  purchase 
prize  pens  to  breed  from ;  for  a  pen  in  such  a  condition  ol 
•unhealthy  fatness  is  not  only  useless  at  the  time,  but  can  rarely 
be  got  into  really  healthy  condition  again.  We  have  seen  a 
really  magnificent  pen  of  Dorkings,  whose  lives  we  would  not 
have  given  three  weeks'  purchase  for ;  and  which,  even  if  they 
did  survive,  were  irretrievably  ruined  for  breeding,  and  ought 
.therefore  to  have  been  condemned  by  the  judges. 


130  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLSL 

Dorkings  are  peculiarly  subject  to  "  bumble  foot  " — a  chronic 
gathering,  or  abscess,  probably  first  produced  by  the  heavy  birds 
descending  on  the  ground  from  too  high  perches,  but  now  it 
appears  more  or  less  hereditary  in  the  breed ;  at  least  we  have 
seen  it  repeatedly  in  fowls  never  allowed  to  roost  high  enough 
to  cause  it  in  this  way,  and  which  had  the  unrestricted  run  of 
a  spacious  park.  We  believe  there  is  no  remedy  but  to  let  the 
abscess  grow  to  maturity,  and  then  remove  it  surgically.  The 
operation  will  be  successful  about  once  out  of  three  times. 

The  great  merit  of  Dorkings  has  already  been  hinted  at,  and 
consists  in  their  unrivalled  excellence  as  table-fowls.  In  this 
respect  we  never  expect  to  see  them  surpassed.  The  meat  is- 
not  only  abundant  and  of  good  quality,  surpassing  any  other 
English  breed  except  game,  but  is  produced  in  greatest  quantity 
in  the  choicest  parts — breast,  merrythought,  and  wings.  Add 
to  this,  that  no  breed  is  so  easily  got  into  good  condition  for 
the  table,  and  enough  has  been  said  to  justify  the  popularity 
of  this  beautiful  English  fowl.  It  should  also  be  noted  that 
the  hen  is  a  most  exemplary  sitter  and  mother ;  and,  remaining 
longer  with  the  chickens  than  most  other  varieties,  is  peculiarly 
suitable  for  hatching  early  broods. 

The  Dorking  is  not,  however,  a  good  layer,  except  when 
very  young;  and  in  winter  is  even  decidedly  bad  in  this  respect. 
The  chickens  are  also  of  very  delicate  constitution  when  bred  in 
confinement,  and  a  few  weeks  of  cold  wet  weather  will  sometimes 
carry  off  nearly  a  whole  brood ;  they  ought  not,  therefore,  to  be 
hatched  before  May.  But  it  is  only  right  to  say  that  when- 
allowed  unlimited  range  the  breed  appears  hardy,  and  as  easy 
to  rear  as  any  other,  if  not  hatched  too  soon.  At  Linton  Park, 
the  chickens  are  all  left  with  the  hens  at  night,  under  coops 
entirely  open  in  the  front ;  and  grow  up  in  perfect  health,  whilst 
the  old  birds  frequently  roost  in  the  trees.  It  is  in  confinement 
or  on  wet  soils  that  they  suffer,  and  the  only  way  of  keeping 
them  successfully  in  such  circumstances  is  to  pay  the  strictest 


SPANISH.  131 

attention  to  cleanliness  and  drainage,  and  to  give  them  soma 
fresh  turf  eveiy  day,  in  addition  to  other  vegetable  food.  With 
these  precautions,  prize  Dorkings  have  been  reared  in  gravelled 
yards  not  containing  more  than  300  square  feet. 

In  fine,  the  breed  is  most  valuable  for  the  market,  or  as  a 
general  fowl,  on  a  wide  and  well-drained  range.  But  we 
cannot  recommend  it  to  supply  the  table  with  eggs,  or  as  a 
profitable  fowl  to  be  kept  in  a  limited  space. 

Our  illustration  is  drawn  from  a  magnificent  pair  of  Grey 
Dorkings  kindly  lent  for  the  purpose  by  Lady  Holmesdale. 


CHAPTER  XVL 

SPANISH. 

UNLIKE  almost  all  other  varieties,  there  really  appears  some 
reason  for  believing  that  this  breed  of  fowls  did  originate,  or  at 
all  events  come  to  us,  from  Spain.  It  has,  however,  been  long 
known  and  valued  by  amateurs  in  this  country,  and  perhaps 
no  other  is  so  generally  popular.  This  is  no  doubt  partly 
owing  to  their  truly  aristocratic  and  haughty  appearance,  but 
no  less  also  to  their  unrivalled  large  white  eggs,  which  exceed 
in  weight  those  of  any  other  breed,  except  the  lately  introduced 
La  Fleche,  and  are  always  sought  after  for  the  breakfast- 
table. 

Of  all  the  varieties  of  this  breed  now  known,  the  white- 
faced  Black  Spanish  is  by  far  the  most  important,  and  the  only 
one  for  which  a  special  class  is  reserved  at  most  poultry  exhibi- 
tions ;  all  others  having  to  be  shown  in  the  class  "  for  any  other 
variety."  Of  this  truly  beautiful  breed  the  following  descrip- 
tion has  been  given  us,  and  subsequently  most  carefully  revised 
by  Mr.  H.  Lane  of  Bristol,  well  known  for  his  magnificent 

j  2 


132  DIFFERENT    BREEDS    OF    FOWLS. 

strain,  and  who  has  probably  taken  more  first  prizes  with  his 
birds  than  any  other  breeder  within  a  similar  period  : — 

"  The  general  carriage  of  Spanish  fowls  is  of  great  import- 
ance. The  cock  especially  should  carry  himself  very  stately 
and  upright,  the  breast  well  projecting,  and  the  tail  standing 
well  up,  but  not  carried  forward  as  in  some  birds.  The  sickle- 
feathers  should  be  perfect  and  fully  developed,  and  the  whole 
plumage  a  dense  jet  black,  with  glossy  reflections  in  the  light. 
The  hen  should  be  equally  dense  in  colour,  but  is  much  less 
glossy.  Any  white  or  speckled  feathers,  which  now  and  then 
occur,  are  fatal  faults. 

"  The  legs  should  be  blue  or  dark  lead-colour ;  any  approach 
to  white  is  decidedly  bad.*  The  legs  in  both  sexes  are  long, 
but  the  fowl  should  be  nevertheless  plump  and  heavy.  I  con- 
sider a  good  cock  for  exhibition  ought  not  to  weigh  under 
seven  pounds  :  the  hen  a  pound  less ;  and  I  have  had  several 
excellent  cocks  which  weighed  eight  pounds  each.  All  Spanish 
fowls  in  really  good  condition  are  heavier  than  they  appear 
to  be. 

"The  comb  must  be  very  large  in  both  sexes,  and  of  a 
bright  vermilion  colour.  That  of  the  hen  should  fall  com- 
pletely over  on  one  side,  but  the  cock's  comb  must  be  perfectly 
upright,  the  slightest  approach  to  falling  over  being  fatal  to 
him  at  a  good  show.  The  indentations  also  must  be  regular 
and  even,  and  the  whole  comb,  though  very  large,  quite  free 
from  any  appearance  of  coarseness.  Any  sign  of  a  twist  in 
front  is  a  great  fault. 

"The  most  important  point,  however,  is  the  white  face. 
This  should  extend  as  high  as  possible  over  the  eye,  and  be  as 
wide  and  deep  as  possible.  At  the  top,  it  should  be  nearly 
arched  in  shape,  approaching  the  bottom  of  the  comb  as  nearly 

*  It  is  singular  that  the  old  fanciers  imperatively  required  these 
identical  bluish  white  legs  in  prize  birds ;  and  legs  of  too  dark  a  tint  were 
often  put  in  poultices  to  make  them  light  enough ! 


SPANISH.  133 


as  possible,  and  reaching  sideways  to  the  ear-lobes  and  wattles, 
meeting  also  under  the  throat.  In  texture  the  face  ought  to 
be  as  fine  and  smooth  as  possible.  The  ears  are  large  and  pen- 
dulous, and  should  be  as  white  as  the  face.  Any  fowl  with 
red  specks  in  the  face  has  not  the  slightest  chance. 

"  With  regard  to  Spanish  fowls  as  layers,  the  pullets  will 
generally  lay  when  six  months  old,  and  I  seldom  get  less  than 
five  or  six  eggs  a  week  from  each.  My  house  is  warmed,* 
which  has,  of  course,  some  influence  on  a  breed  so  delicate ;  but 
with  this  artificial  aid,  I  find  my  pullets  lay  throughout  the 
winter,  as  above. 

"  The  great  thing  with  the  chickens  is  to  keep  them  out  of 
the  damp.  They  scarcely  ever  get  roup ;  but  if  not  kept  dry 
die  away  rapidly,  no  one  knows  how.  They  ought  not,  there- 
fore, as  a  rule,  to  be  hatched  very  early  in  the  year,  and  one 
cock  ought  not  to  be  allowed  more  than  three  hens,  as  the  eggs 
are  less  fertile  than  those  of  most  other  breeds." 

The  following  additional  remarks  on  this  fowl  are  compiled 
from  information  furnished  us  by  various  amateurs. 

Spanish  are  judged  most  of  all  by  the  quantity  and  quality 
of  the  "face."  If  this  be  rough  and  "warty"  so  as  to  hinder 
the  sight  of  the  bird,  or  have  any  decided  red  mark,  especially 
above  the  eye,  or  be  much  disfigured  in  the  same  region  by 
feathers,  the  bird  has  little  chance.  Such  feathers  are  often 
pulled  out,  but  if  thus  "  trimmed"  a  pen  ought  always  to  be 
disqualified,  though  it  is  almost  universally  done  by  exhibitors. 

Like  all  other  black  fowls,  coloured  or  even  white 
feathers  will  occasionally  happen.  Such  birds  are  hopeless  to 
exhibit,  and  decidedly  bad  to  breed  from. 

That  the  comb  of  the  cock  should  be  absolutely  erect  is 

most  important,  and  many  breeders,  to  secure  this,  place  light 

wire  frames,  or  "  cages,"  over   them,    as   soon   as   sufficiently 

developed  to  hold  the  wire  in  place  :  the  combs  are  thus  grown 

*  For  plan  and  description  of  Mr.  Lane's  establishment,  see  Chap.  VII. 


134  DIFFERENT  BREEDS   OF  FOWLS. 

straight,  like  cucumbers !  But  there  will  rarely  be  need  for 
this,  if  the  breeding-stock  be  of  good  constitution.  The  hens 
selected  for  breeding  should  therefore  be  carefully  chosen  with 
good  thick  combs,  which  spring  up  with  some  arch  before  they 
fall  over  the  side  of  the  head.  Hens  with  combs  that  fall 
dead  over  will  rarely  breed  strong-combed  cockerels.  The 
eomb  of  both  sexes  should,  however,  get  thin  at  the  edge,  or  it 
will  appear  heavy  and  clumsy. 

Mr.  Lane  has  alluded  to  the  delicacy  of  the  chickens. 
During  feathering,  which  is  in  this  breed  a  very  slow  process, 
they  require  special  care  and  most  generous  diet,  or  few  will 
be  reared.  When  full  grown,  however,  they  are  a  tolerably 
hardy  fowl  altogether,  but  always  suffer  much  in  moulting, 
and  during  very  cold  or  damp  weather. 

In  no  breed  is  purity  of  race  of  so  much  importance  as  in  this ; 
and  in  introducing  a  fresh  cock  it  is  especially  needful  to  see 
that  both  his  appearance  and  his  pedigree  are  quite  satisfactory. 
One  of  the  most  eminent  breeders  in  England  informed  us  a 
few  months  since  that  all  his  chickens  of  the  season  had  been 
ruined  by  the  introduction  of  a  fresh  cock,  whose  face  when 
purchased  appeared  perfectly  white,  but  who  had  imported 
more  or  less  red  into  every  chicken  hatched  from  him.  There 
can  be  no  doubt,  however,  that  too  close  interbreeding  has 
greatly  injured  the  Spanish  fowl,  and  that  both  size,  constitu- 
tion, and  prolificacy  have  been  sacrificed  to  the  white  face 
alone.  Such  a  result  is  to  be  regretted;  and  as  it  is  now 
becoming  generally  acknowledged  and  deplored,  we  may  hope 
that  it  is  not  yet  too  late  to  get  back  some  of  the  size  and 
hardihood  of  the  Spanish  fowl  as  formerly  known.* 

*  It  was  a  subject  of  general  remark  that  at  the  last  Birmingham 
show  (December,  1866)  the  Spanish  fowls  were  larger  and  finer  on  the 
•whole  than  had  been  seen  for  a  considerable  time ;  and  at  the  Bristol  show 
a  month  after  there  was  confessedly  the  most  splendid  collection  of  this 
breed  that  had  ever  been  seen,  as  was  emphatically  remarked  by  the 
judges.  We  hope  the  improvement  may  not  be  merely  temporary. 


SPANISH.  135 

The  other  principal  varieties  of  Spanish  are — the  Minorca,  or 
Red-faced  Black ;  the  White ;  the  Blue,  or  Andalusian;  and  the 
Ancona,  Grey,  or  Mottled  breed. 

[MINORCA. — This  breed  resembles  in  comb,  ears,  shape,  and 
colour  of  plumage,  the  white-faced  breed,  but  considerably  sur- 
passes it  in  size;  and,  on  an  average,  we  consider  the  comb 
more  largely  developed;  the  legs  are  also  shorter.  A  good 
cock  ought  to  weigh  from  eight  to  nine  pounds.  It  is  the  best 
layer  of  all  the  Spanish  breeds,  and  the  chickens  are  tolerably 
hardy.  It  is  a  great  favourite  in  the  West  of  England,  and 
deserves  to  be  more  widely  cultivated,  as  it  far  surpasses  the 
preceding  in  everything  except  the  white  face.  Prizes  are  now 
and  then  offered  to  Minorcas,  and,  on  one  or  two  occasions,  we 
have  known  them  allowed  to  take  honours  in  the  general 
"  Black  Spanish  "  class  j  but  usually  they  are  quite  overlooked 
by  poultry  judges. 

We  think  it  would  be  well  worth  while  to  try  the  effect  of 
throwing  a  cross  of  this  breed  into  its  more  aristocratic  rela- 
tive. The  lien  should  be  selected  for  the  cross,  of  course — not 
only  to  avoid  the  risk  of  contaminating  a  whole  strain  by  the 
experiment,  but  because  it  is  chiefly  size  and  constitution 
that  are  wanted,  while  the  red  face  must  be  as  speedily  as 
possible  "bred  out"  again.  Let  a  fine  Minorca  hen,  therefore, 
be  put  with  a  good  white-faced  cock,  and  her  eggs  care- 
fully kept  apart  When  hatched,  let  one  or  two  of  the 
puUeis  only  which  show  most  size  and  constitution  be  again 
reserved,  and  mated  with  another  good  cock  of  a  different 
family,  and  so  on.  We  have  never  seen  the  experiment  tried, 
but  believe  a  few  years  of  this  system  would  breed  good  white- 
faced  birds,  far  superior  in  size  and  stamina  to  any  of  the 
existing  strains. 

WHITE. — This  breed  should  have  a  red  face  and  white  ears, 
as  in  the  Minorca,  which  it  also  resembles  in  size,  shape,  and 
general  qualities.  The  plumage,  however,  is  snow-white,  with- 


DIFFERENT  BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

out  a  single  stain.  All  black  fowls  occasionally  throw  white 
chickens,  and  no  doubt  the  white  breed  was  thus  accidentally- 
originated. 

Straw-colour  in  the  cock,  or  stains  of  red  in  the  ears,  are 
the  most  common  faults  in  this  variety.  w 

AKDALUSIAN. — This  must  be  considered  a  truly  useful  and 
handsome  fowl,  being,  according  to  general  testimony,  the 
hardiest  of  all  the  Spanish  breeds.  The  plumage  is  slaty  blue, 
in  many  specimens  slightly  laced  with  a  darker  shade,  but  the 
neck  hackles  and  tail  feathers  are  glossy  black,  and  harmonise 
very  richly  with  the  rest.  Ears  white  and  face  red,  as  in  the 
Minorca.  Unlike  other  Spanish  chickens,  these  are  very  hardy, 
and  feather  rapidly  and  well,  which  gives  them  a  great  advan- 
tage. This  breed  appears  each  year  to  increase  the  number  of 
its  admirers,  and  may  very  probably  attain  in  time  to  a  distinct 
class  of  its  own. 

ANCONAS. — Mottled  all  over,  or  what  is  called  "cuckoo" 
colour,  and  look  rather  pretty.  In  all  other  points  they 
resemble  Minorcas,  being,  however,  of  a  smaller  size. 

The  so-called  "  Columbian"  fowl  is  evidently  a  cross  between 
the  Spanish  cock  and  Malay  hen,  but  would  be  well  worth 
establishing  as  a  distinct  breed.  The  black  plumage  is  of  extra- 
ordinary lustre,  whilst  the  bird  is  of  great  size  and  hardihood, 
excellent  for  the  table,  and  the  hen  a  most  prolific  layer,  the 
eggs  being  also  probably  the  very  largest  known.  Even  as  a 
cross,  such  fowls  are  well  worth  keeping  ;  and  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  a  well-established  breed  combining  these  qualities 
would  soon  become  a  favourite. 

Spanish  fowls  of  any  kind  are  very  little  subject  to  roup, 
at  least  in  any  marked  or  specific  form  ;  but  suffer  exceedingly 
from  cold  or  wet.  Severe  frost  especially  often  attacks  the 
comb  and  wattles,  and  if  the  bird  in  this  state  be  not  attended 
to,  it  will  be  disfigured  for  life.  The  proper  treatment  is  ta 
rub  the  affected  parts  with  snow  or  cold  water,  exactly  as  in 


SPANISH.  137 

the  human  subject,  but  not  on  any  account  to  take  the  frost- 
bitten bird  into  a  warm  room  until  recovered.  The  fowls  are- 
also  very  long  over  their  moult,  and  need  special  care  and! 
nourishing  food  at  this  season. 

The}-  are  also  liable  to  a  peculiar  disease  called  "  black  rot.'* 
The  symptoms  are  a  blackening  of  the  comb,  swelling  of  the 
legs  and  feet,  and  general  wasting  of  the  system.  It  can  only 
be  cured  in  the  earlier  stages  by  frequent  doses  of  castor-oil,  to 
keep  up  purging ;  at  the  same  time  giving  freely  strong  ale  or 
other  stimulants,  with  warm  and  nourishing  food. 

Another  singular  disease  occasionally  occurring  in  this  fowl 
has  never,  we  believe,  had  any  name  given  to  it ;  but  the  symp- 
tom is  the  occurrence,  in  rapid  succession,  of  bladders  under 
the  skin,  which  contain  however  nothing  but  air.  We  believe 
the  cause  to  be  debility  :  at  least,  nourishing  and  stimulating 
food,  pricking  each  vesicle  as  it  rises,  will  generally  effect  a 
cure. 

The  merit  of  Spanish  fowls  is  their  production  of  large 
white  eggs,  which  are  laid  in  great  abundance  in  moderate- 
weather.  They  are  also  of  very  good  quality  as  table-birds. 
But  they  cannot  be  called  good  winter-layers,  unless  with  the 
aid  of  artificial  heat ;  and  their  delicacy  of  constitution  is  a 
great  drawback  to  their  otherwise  many  merits.  We  believe, 
however,  that  fanciers  have  this  point  much  in  their  own 
hands;  and,  even  in  spite  of  such  a  serious  fault,  wherever 
large  eggs  are  valued  or  desired,  the  Spanish  will  always  be 
regarded  as  a  most  useful  and  profitable  fowl — the  Minorca- 
being  the  best  regarded  from  this  point. 

As  a  "fancy"  fowl  we  believe  the  "white-faced"  variety  to- 
be  the  most  profitable  of  any,  as  good  stock  are  always  saleable 
at  high  prices,  and  out  of  a  dozen  good  eggs  there  are  almost 
invariably  a  larger  proportion  of  chickens  fit  for  exhibition  than 
can  be  reckoned  upon  in  any  other  breed  we  are  acquainted 
with. 


138  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

For  two  or  three  weeks  before  exhibition,  Spanish  fowls 
should  be  allowed  as  much  meal  as  they  like  to  eat.  The  day 
before  sending  off,  the  legs  should  be  carefully  washed,  and  also 
the  comb,  wattles,  and  face ;  drying  the  latter  carefully  with  a 
soft  towel.  The  face  will  probably  get  rather  red  under  this 
treatment,  and  if  so,  the  bird  must  be  put  for  the  night  in  a 
warm  room,  kept  perfectly  dark,  which  will  make  all  right 
again.  The  hamper  should  also  be  carefully  lined,  that  the 
birds  may  not  take  cold,  and  the  top  should  be  high  enough  to 
avoid  any  danger  of  injury  to  the  combs. 

To  send  fowls  of  this  breed  to  winter  shows  in  a  basket  not 
lined,  is  in  severe  weather  almost  certain  death. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

HAMBURGHS. 

UNDER  the  name  of  Hamburghs  are  now  collected  several 
varieties  of  fowls,  presenting  the  general  characteristics  of 
rather  small  size,  brilliant  rose  combs,  ending  in  a  spike  behind, 
projecting  upwards,  blue  legs,  and  beautifully  pencilled  or 
spangled  plumage.  None  of  the  Hamburghs  ever  show  any 
disposition  to  sit  unless  in  a  state  of  great  freedom,  but  lay 
nearly  every  day  all  through  the  year,  except  during  the 
moulting  season,  whence  they  used  to  be  called  "  Dutch  every- 
day layers." 

It  is  not  our  province  to  enter  into  the  question  of  the 
origin  of  the  different  breeds  of  Hamburghs.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  usual  classification  into  simply  spangled  and 
pencilled  is  not  sufficient  to  mark  the  distinct  varieties  that 
exist ;  but  our  duty  is  to  take  the  classes  as  we  find  them,  and 
describe  them  as  they  are  now  recognised  at  the  leading  shows ; 
paying  special  attention  to  the  plumage,  as  exactness  of 


HAMBURGHS.  139 


marking  is  of  more  importance  in  this  than  in  almost  any 
other  breed.  In  so  doing  we  are  glad  to  acknowledge  the  able 
•assistance  of  Mr.  Henry  Beldon,  of  Goitstock,  Bingley,  York- 
shire, who  at  present  breeds  these  beautiful  varieties  more 
extensively,  and  takes  more  prizes,  than  any  one  else  in  the 
kingdom. 

SILVER-PENCILLED. — The  size  of  this  exquisite  breed  is 
small,  but  the  shape  of  both  cock  and  hen  peculiarly  graceful 
and  sprightly.  Carriage  of  the  cock  very  conceited,  the  tail 
being  borne  high,  and  carried  in  a  graceful  arch.  The  comb 
in  this,  as  in  all  the  other  varieties,  to  be  rather  square  in 
front,  and  well  peaked  behind,  full  of  spikes,  and  free  from 
hollow  in  the  centre.  Ear-lobe  pure  white,  free  from  red 
edging.  Legs  small  and  blue. 

The  head,  hackle,  back,  saddle,  breast,  and  thighs  of  the 
cock  should  be  white  as  driven  snow.  Tail  black,  glossed  with 
green,  the  sickle  and  side  feathers  having  a  narrow  white  edging 
the  whole  length,  the  more  even  and  sharply  defined  the 
better.  Wings  principally  white,  but  the  lower  wing-coverts 
marked  with  black,  showing  a  narrow  indistinct  bar  across  the 
wing.  The  secondary  quills  have  also  a  glossy  black  spot  on 
the  end  of  each  feather,  which  gives  the.  wing  a  black  edging. 
The  most  frequent  defect  in  the  cock  is  a  reddish-brown  patch 
on  the  wing,  which  is  fatal.  We  believe  this  fault  to  occur 
nearly  always  in  old  birds,  and  remember  seeing  a  cock  which 
had  taken  thirty-seven  prizes  moult  out  thus  at  last,  and  so  end 
his  career  as  an  exhibition  bird.  The  bar  on  the  wings  is 
difficult  to  get,  and  is  not  imperative ;  any  cock  with  a  nicely 
edged  tail,  and  quite  free  from  coloured  or  black  markings  on 
any  part  of  the  body,  ought  to  stand  a  fair  chance  in  exhibition, 
if  form  and  comb  be  good.  As  a  bird  to  breed  from,  however, 
he  would  be  a  failure ;  as  it  is  impossible  to  get  well-marked 
pullets  except  from  a  cock  with  a  good  proportion  of  black 
under-colour 


140  DIFFERENT   BREEDS    OF    FOWLS. 

The  most  frequent  fault  in  the  hen  is  a  spotted  hackle, 
instead  of  a  pure  white.  The  rest  of  the  body  should  have 
each  feather  distinctly  marked,  or  "pencilled"  across  with 
bars  of  black,  free  from  cloudiness,  or,  a.s  it  is  called,  "mossing." 
(See  "  Feathers,"  No.  5.)  The  tail  feathers  should  be  pencilled 
the  same  as  the  body ;  but  to  get  the  quill  feathers  of  the 
wings  so  is  rare,  and  a  hen  thus  marked  is  unusually  valuable. 
General  form  very  neat,  and  appearance  remarkably  sprightly. 

GOLDEN-PENCILLED. — The  form  of  this  breed  is  the  same  as- 
the  preceding  variety,  and  fthe  black  markings  are  generally 
similar,  only  grounded  upon  a  rich  golden  bay  colour  instead  of 
a  pure  white.  The  cock's  tail  should  be  black,  the  sickles 
and  side  feathers  edged  with  bronze ;  but  tails  bronzed  all  over 
are  often  seen.  The  bar  on  the  wing  is  not  imperative,  or 
even  usual,  in  this  breed.  The  colour  of  the  cock  is  always 
much  darker  than  that  of  the  hens,  generally  approaching  a 
rich  chestnut. 

In  all  pencilled  Hamburghs  the  value  chiefly  depends  on  the 
exactness  and  definition  of  the  markings,  which  ought  to  be  a 
dense  black,  and  the  ground  colour  between  quite  clear.  The 
silver  is  slightly  the  largest  breed. 

GOLDEN-SPANGLED. — Whilst  the  markings  on  pencilled 
Hamburghs  consist  of  parallel  bars  across  the  feathers,  the 
varieties  we  are  now  to  consider  vary  fundamentally  in  having 
only  one  black  mark  at  the  end  of  each  feather,  forming  the 
spangle.  This  black  marking  varies  in  shape,  and  though  only 
one  variety  is  recognised  ki  each  colour  at  poultry  exhibitions, 
it  is  quite  certain  that  both  in  gold  and  silver  there  are  two 
distinct  breeds,  distinguished  by  the  shape  of  the  spangle.  The 
best  known  of  the  two  varieties,  and  the  most  often  seen,  is  the 
breed  long  known  in  Lancashire  under  the  name  of  "  mooneys," 
from  the  spangles  being  round,  or  moon-shaped. 

The  ground  colour  of  the  Golden  "  Mooney  "  Hamburghs  is 
a  rich  golden  bay,  each  of  the  feathers  having  a  large  circle,  or 


UAMBURGHS.  141 

moon,  of  rich  black,  having  a  glossy  green  reflection.  (See 
"Feathers,"  No.  4.)  The  hackle  should  be  streaked  with 
greenish  black  in  the  middle  of  the  feathers,  and  edged  with 
gold.  Tail  quite  black,  even  in  the  hens.  All  the  spangles 
should  be  large  and  regular  in  shape. 

In  the  cock  the  upper  part  of  the  breast  is  usually  glossy 
black,  but  lower  down,  at  least,  it  ought  to  be  rich  bay,  and 
spangled  like  the  hens.  The  cock  of  this  breed  is  rather  small 
in  proportion  to  the  hens. 

The  second  variety  is  that  known  chiefly  in  Yorkshire  as 
u  pheasant  fowls,"  and  differs  greatly  in  the  plumage.  Instead 
of  the  spangles  being  round,  as  in  the  "  mooneys,"  they  are 
crescent-shaped  (See  "Feathers,"  No.  3),  approaching  the 
character  of  lacing ;  the  marking  is  also  seldom  so  sharp  and 
definite,  being  often  a  little  "  mossed."  In  the  cock  the 
crescent  spangles  on  the  breast  run  so  much  up  the  sides  of  the 
feathers  as  really  to  become  almost  a  lacing. 

The  latter  variety  is  the  largest,  hardiest,  and  the  best 
layer ;  but  is  seldom  seen  at  shows  pure-bred.  The  usual  plan 
appears  to  be,  to  show  mooney  hens  along  with  cocks  bred 
between  mooney  and  pheasant  fowls.  The  reason  of  this  is 
that  the  mooney  cock  has  scarcely  ever  a  pure  ear-lobe,  and 
generally  has  a  dark  breast ;  and  by  crossing  the  two  breeds 
together,  cocks  are  produced  with  spangled  breasts  and  white 
ear-lobes,  and  altogether  much  larger  and  showier  birds  than 
the  pure  mooneys.  It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  to  breed 
birds  for  exhibition,  two  distinct  lots  must  be  penned  up ; 
viz.,  pure  mooneys  for  the  pullets,  and  mooneys  with  Yorkshire 
Pheasants  for  the  cockerels ;  of  course  choosing  birds  for  this 
purpose  with  the  best  developed  ear-lobes  and  most  evenly 
spangled  breasts.  The  cross  thus  obtained  may  be  also  used 
to  breed  cocks  from,  but  not  to  breed  pullets ;  although  of  late 
even  hens  have  been  shown  with  a  taint  of  the  Yorkshire 
Pheasant  in  them,  as  evidenced  by  their  white  ear-lobes  and 


142  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

larger  size.  These  birds  show  well  under  cover,  but  when  seen 
in  full  daylight  are  not  to  be  compared  to  the  true-bred 
mooney  hen  in  richness  of  plumage. 

We  have  been  careful  to  explain  this  at  length,  because 
ignorance  of  it  has  disgusted  many  with  this  truly  beautiful 
breed.  Many  a  "  first-prize  pen  "  has  been  purchased,  and  the 
breed  afterwards  given  up  in  disgust,  on  account  of  the  cross 
in  the  cock  not  being  known  or  understood,  and  the  pen  there- 
fore bred  from  as  in  other  breeds.  We  cannot  but  consider 
such  cross-breeding  a  great  pity ;  but  it  is  encouraged  by  the 
judges,  who  look  mainly  for  a  white  deaf-ear;  and  all  we  can 
do  therefore  is  to  make  the  plan  of  breeding  plain  to  the 
uninitiated. 

SILVER-SPANGLED. — In  this  class  two  similar  varieties  exist. 
The  Lancashire  silver  "  mooney,"  with  large  round  spangles, 
resembles  the  golden,  substituting  a  silvery  white  ground 
colour.  The  outside  tail  feathers  in  the  hen,  however,  differ 
from  the  golden  mooney,  being  silver  white,  with  only  black 
moons  at  the  tips.  The  moons  on  wing  covert  feathers  in 
both  sexes  should  form  two  black  bars  across  the  wings ;  the 
more  regular  these  bars  the  more  valuable  the  bird. 

The  silver  pheasant-fowl  of  Yorkshire  has  smaller  spangles, 
and  not  so  round,  without,  however,  running  into  the  crescent 
form  of  the  golden  pheasant-fowl.  The  tail  is  white  in  both 
cock  and  hen,  ending  in  black  spangles.  The  cock's  breast 
has  also  far  less  spangling  than  the  mooney  breed. 

With  regard  to  breeding  Silver- spangled  Hamburghs  for 
exhibition,  the  case  is  still  more  complicated  than  in  the  golden 
variety,  as  even  the  silver-mooney  contains  two  distinct  sub- 
varieties.  The  purest  strain  breeds  cocks  that  are  hen-feathered, 
or  marked  and  feathered  exactly  like  the  hen,  with  the  excep- 
tion that  the  top  feathers  of  the  tail  are  rather  longer.  This 
variety  formerly  took  all  the  prizes,  being  larger  and  much 
handsomer  in  marking;  but  the  judges  at  Birmingham  di?- 


HAMBURGHS.  143 

carded  them  some  years  ago,  and  since  then  they  have  nearly 
died  out,  being  only  kept  tip  by  a  few  of  the  most  eminent 
breeders  who  know  their  real  merits.  There  is  another  and 
far  more  common  variety  of  mooney,  which  breeds  cocks  with 
dark  tails  and  reddish  ear-lobes,  and  is  probably  originally  a 
cross  from  the  higher-bred  variety  just  mentioned  with  the 
Yorkshire  Pheasant.  Be  this  as  it  may,  cocks  for  exhibition 
are  usually  bred  by  mating  this  latter  variety  again  with  the 
Yorkshire  Pheasant,  the  cross  producing  a  cockerel  which 
meets  the  requirements  of  the  judges,  having  a  full  yet  clear 
tail,  and  pure  white  ear-lobes ;  it,  however,  lacks  that  depth  of 
colour  for  which  the  true-bred  mooney  is  conspicuous.  Good 
pullets  can  also  be  bred  from  the  Lancashire  dark  and  full- 
tailed  cock  when  mated  with  his  own  hens,  but  not  equal  in 
either  colour  or  size  to  those  bred  from  the  hen-feathered 
birds ;  which  latter,  however,  are  of  little  use  for  breeding 
cockerels. 

We  cannot  avoid  remarking  on  the  folly  of  these  ingenious 
and  yet  clumsy  proceedings,  so  opposed  to  real  scientific  breed- 
ing. The  proper  plan  would  have  been  to  adopt  as  a  basis  the 
most  perfect  variety — the  hen-tailed  mooney — and  by  careful 
selection  of  breeding  stock,  to  banish  that  feature  when  found 
to  be  objectionable,  which  might  have  been  done  in  a  few 
years,  all  other  merits  of  marking  being  retained.  Instead  of 
this,  we  find  a  system  which  infallibly  disgusts  every  one 
ignorant  of  its  mysteries  with  the  whole  breed ;  and  whether 
judges  or  exhibitors  are  most  to  blame  for  it,  it  would  be  hard 
to  decide. 

There  is  also  a  hen-feathered  Golden  Hamburgh;  and  in 
both  colours  these  birds  are  very  hardy  and  long-lived.  But  it 
is  to  be  noted  that  Silver- spangled  Hamburghs,  both  Lanca- 
shire and  Yorkshire,  are  much  better  layers  than  the  Golden 
birds. 

It  should  be  noted  that  many  spangled  Hamburgh  chickens 


144  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

are  at  first  pencilled  in  the  feathers,  the  true  spangling  only 
appearing  with  the  first  moult. 

BLACK  HAMBURG HS. — There  is  little  doubt  that  this  breed 
has  been  produced  by  crossing  with  the  Spanish ;  the  white 
face  often  half-apparent,  the  larger  size  (cocks  often  weighing 
7  Ibs.),  and  the  darker  legs,  all  betray  its  origin.  It  is,  how- 
ever, perfectly  well  established  as  a  distinct  variety,  and  good 
strains  breed  quite  true  to  colour  and  other  points. 

In  the  black  variety  the  comb  of  the  cock  is  considerably 
larger  than  in  the  others  we  have  noted,  the  wattles  also  being 
large  and  round.  Plumage  black,  spangled,  when  seen  in  the 
light,  with  dark  glossy  green.  Hens  similar  in  plumage ;  but 
in  general  make  rather  square  and  heavy,  with  short  legs,  very 
•different  from  the  other  varieties. 

On  the  whole,  we  can  most  strongly  recommend  Hamburghs 
us  a  profitable  breed.  Each  hen  will  lay  from  200  to  250  eggs 
in  a  year,  which  certainly  exceeds  the  production  of  any  other 
fowl ;  and  if  they  are  generally  small,  the  consumption  of  food 
is  comparatively  even  more  so.  Though  naturally  loving  a 
wide  range,  there  is  no  real  difficulty  in  keeping  them  in  con- 
finement, if  cleanliness  be  attended  to.  Last  year  we  hatched 
a  brood  of  eleven,  two  of  which  were  killed,  and  all  the  re- 
mainder we  have  now.  Till  three  months  old  they  had  the 
j-un  of  the  garden,  since  which  they  have  been  chiefly  confined 
in  a  shed ;  but  are  all  in  perfect  health,  and  well  repay  their 
food.  Indeed,  more  profitable  fowls  are  none;  whilst  their 
varieties  of  barring,  pencilling,  or  spangl;ng,  with  their  elegant 
shape,  form  the  very  perfection  of  bird  beauty,  and  never  fail 
to  excite  admiration. 

The  great  difficulty  in  keeping  them  arises  from  their 
erratic  propensities.  Small  and  light,  they  fly  like  birds,  and 
•even  a  ten-feet  fence  will  not  retain  them  in  a  small  run. 
They  may,  it  is  true,  be  kept  in  a  shed ;  but,  if  so,  the  number 
must  be  very  limited.  Where  six  Brahmas  would  be  kept, 


POLANDS.  1 45 

four  Hamburghs  are  quite  enough,  and  they  must  be  kept  dry 
and  scrupulously  clean.  The  pencilled  birds  are  also,  most 
certainly,  delicate,  being  very  liable  to  roup  if  exposed  to  cold 
or  wet;  they  should  not,  therefore,  be  hatched  before  May. 
The  spangled  are  hardy,  and  lay  larger  eggs  than  the  pencilled ; 
but  the  latter  lay  rather  the  most  in  number.  For  profit, 
however,  we  should  recommend  the  black  Hamburgh,  on 
account  of  the  large  size  of  the  eggs ;  and  this  variety  is 
certainly  the  most  extraordinary  egg-producer  of  all  breeds 
known. 

Hamburghs  are  too  small  to  figure  much  on  the  table. 
They  carry,  however,  from  the  smallness  of  the  bones,  rathei 
more  meat  than  might  be  expected,  and  what  there  is  of  it  is  of 
first-rate  quality  and  flavour. 


CHAPTER  XVIIL 

POLANDS. 

UNDER  the  title  of  Polands,  or  Polish  fowls,  should  be  collected 
all  varieties  which  are  distinguished  by  a  well-developed  crest, 
or  tuft  of  feathers  on  the  top  of  the  head.  This  crest  invariably 
proceeds  from  a  remarkable  swelling  or  projection  at  the  top  of 
the  skull,  which  contains  a  large  portion  of  the  brain  ;  and  it  is 
worthy  of  remark,  that  as  the  comparative  size  of  this  protube- 
rance invariably  corresponds  with  that  of  the  crest  springing 
from  it,  the  best  crested  chickens  can  be  selected  even  when 
first  hatched.  It  is  also  remarkable  that  the  feathers  in  the 
crest  of  the  cock  resemble  those  of  his  neck-hackles,  being  long 
and  pointed,  whilst  those  of  the  hen  are  shorter  and  round ; 
and  this  difference  forms  the  first  means  of  distinguishing  the 
sexes. 

The  comb  of  all  Polish  fowls  is  likewise  peculiar,  being  of 


146  DIFFERENT    BREEDS    OF    FOWLS. 

what  is  called  the  two-horned  character.  This  formation  is 
most  plainly  seen  in  the  Crevecoeurs,  where  the  two  horns  are 
very  conspicuous.  In  the  breeds  more  specifically  known  as 
Polish,  the  comb  should  be  almost  invisible,  but  what  there  is 
of  it  will  always  show  the  bifurcated  formation. 

Under  the  title  of  Polish  fowls,  might  perhaps  be  included 
the  Crevecoeurs,  Houdans,  and  Gueldres,  if  not  La  Fleche;  but  we 
shall,  for  convenience  of  reference,  describe  these  crested  fowls 
in  a  separate  chapter  on  the  French  breeds,  and  confine  our- 
selves here  to  the  other  tufted  varieties,  including  the  recently 
introduced  Sultans. 

The  following  descriptions  have  been  corrected  to  the  latest 
date  by  Mr.  Henry  Beldon,  of  Bingley,  Yorkshire,  well  known 
as  a  prize-taker  with  these  breeds. 

WHITE-CRESTED  BLACK. — This  is  the  most  generally  known 
of  all  the  varieties.  The  carriage  of  the  cock,  as  in  all  Polands, 
is  graceful  and  bold,  with  the  neck  thrown  rather  back,  towards 
the  tail ;  body  short,  round,  and  plump ;  legs  rather  short, 
and  in  colour  either  black  or  leaden  blue.  There  should  be  no 
comb,  but  full  wattles  of  a  bright  red ;  ear-lobes  a  pure  white. 
Plumage  black  all  over  the  body,  with  bright  reflections  on  the 
hackle,  saddle,  and  tail.  Crest  large,  regular,  and  full,  even  in 
the  centre,  and  each  feather  in  a  perfect  bird  we  suppose  of  a 
pure  white  ;  but  there  are  always  a  few  black  feathers  in  front, 
and  no  bird  is  therefore  to  be  disqualified  on  that  account, 
though  the  fewer  the  better.  Weight  from  five  to  six 
pounds. 

Hen  very  compact  and  plump  in  form.  Plumage  a  deep 
rich  black.  Crest  almost  globular  in  shape,  and  in  colour  like 
the  cock's.  We  never  yet  saw  a  bird  in  whose  crest  there  were 
not  a  few  black  feathers  in  front,  and  we  doubt  if  such  were 
ever  bred.  Where  they  do  not  appear,  we  believe  the  crests 
have  always  been  "  trimmed,"  and  in  no  class  does  this  practice 
BO  frequently  call  for  the  condemnation  of  the  poultry  judge. 


POLANDa  147 

"Weight  of   the   hen   four   to   five   pounds.      This   variety   is 
peculiarly  delicate  and  subject  to  roup. 

BLACK-CRESTED  WHITE. — There  is  indisputable  evidence 
that  there  once  existed  a  breed  of  Black-crested  White  Polands; 
but,  unfortunately,  it  is  equally  plain  that  the  strain  has  been 
totally  lost  The  last  seen  appears  to  have  been  found  by  Mr. 
Brent,  in  1854,  at  St.  Omer,  and  if  the  breed  still  exists  at  all, 
we  believe  it  will  be  found  either  in  France  or  Ireland.  Its 
disappearance  is  the  more  to  be  regretted,  as  it  seems  to  have 
been  not  only  the  most  ornamental,  but  the  largest  and  most 
valuable  of  all  the  Polish  varieties.  The  hen  described  by  Mr. 
Brent  dwarfed  even  some  Malay  hens  in  the  same  yard. 

We  believe  the  colour  of  this  variety  may  be  recovered  by 
breeding  from  such  birds  of  the  kind  next  mentioned  as  show 
any  tendency  to  black  in  the  crest,  and  carefully  selecting  the 
darkest  crested  chickens.  Mr.  W.  B.  Tegetmeier  did  commence 
such  an  experiment,  and  succeeded  perfectly  in  producing  white 
chickens  with  black  crests,  though  they  always  became  more  or 
less  marked  with  white  in  subsequent  moults.  The  attempt 
was  therefore  discontinued,  though  a  few  years'  longer  perse- 
verance would  undoubtedly  have  established  the  strain  true  to 
colour,  in  accordance  with  the  principles  laid  down  in  Chapter 
VIII.  But  the  great  comparative  size,  which  all  accounts  agree 
belonged  to  the  old  breed,  we  are  afraid  is  for  ever  lost. 

WHITE-CRESTED  WHITE. — This  breed,  and  those  which 
follow,  differ  from  the  white-crested  black  Pdlands  not  only  in 
greater  hardihood,  but  in  having  a  well-developed  beard  under 
the  chin,  in  lieu  of  wattles.  They  are  large  fine  birds,  and  the 
crest  is  finer  and  more  perfect  than  in  most  other  colours.  They 
are  also  among  the  best  in  point  of  laying.  The  plumage  needs 
no  description,  being  pure  white  throughout. 

SILTER  SPANGLED. — In  this  variety  the  ground  colour  of  the 
plumage  is  a  silver  white,  with  well-defined  moon-shaped  black 
spangles.  (See  "  Feathers,"  No.  4).  In  the  cock,  the  hackle 

K  2 


H8  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

feathers  are  white,  edged  and  tipped  with  black ;  in  the  hen 
each  hackle  feather  should  have  a  spangle  on  the  end.  Tail 
feathers  clear  white,  with  a  large  spangle  on  the  ends.  The 
spangling  on  the  wing  coverts  should  be  large  and  regular  in 
both  sexes,  so  as  to  form  two  well-defined  bars  across  each 
wing.  The  proper  spangling  of  the  breast  is  very  important. 
Many  cocks  are  nearly  black  on  the  upper  part,  which  is  a 
great  fault. 

The  crest  feathers  are  black  at  the  base  and  tip,  with  white 
between.  Crest  to  be  full  and  regular,  showing  no  vacancy  in 
the  centre.  A  few  white  feathers  usually  appear  after  the 
second  moult  in  the  very  best  bred  hens,  and  in  old  birds  are 
not  a  disqualification,  though  certainly  a  fault. 

Ear-lobes  small  and  white ;  wattles  none,  being  replaced  by 
a  black  or  spangled  beard. 

The  size  of  this  breed  is  very  good,  weight  of  the  cock  six 
to  seven  and-a-half  pounds ;  liens  four  to  five  and-a-half  pounds. 
Besides  the  moon-shaped  spangling,  birds  are  shown  with 
laced  feathers,  that  is,  with  an  edging  of  black  on  the  outline 
of  the  feathers,  but  thicker  at  the  end.  This  marking  when 
perfect  is  of  exquisite  beauty,  and  appears  at  present  to  secure 
most  of  the  prizes.  The  hens  have  clear  white  tails,  laced  and 
spangled  with  black ;  but  the  cocks  have  generally  dark  tails, 
which  takes  much  from  their  beauty.  A  few  have,  however, 
been  shown  with  clear  tails  like  the  hens,  but  appear  to  find 
no  favour  with  the  judges,  who  seem  to  prefer  the  darker- 
looking  birds,  inferior  in  beauty  as  they  nevertheless  certainly 
are.  From  such  laced  birds  were  derived  the  celebrated 
Sebright  Bantams. 

GOLDEN- SPANGLED. — This  breed  is  similar  to  the  preceding 
in  the  black  markings,  substituting  a  rich  golden  ground  for 
the  silver  white.  The  tail  of  the  cock,  however,  is  dark  bay, 
the  sickles  being  tipped  with  black,  and  the  side  feathers  edged 
evenly  with  the  same  colour.  Like  the  preceding  variety, 


POLANDS.  1 49 

golden-sparigled  Polands  are  also  very  often  shown  with  the 
markings  in  the  form  of  a  lacing,  and  such  are  just  now  most 
popular. 

BUFF  or  CHAMOIS  POLANDS  are  a  recent  introduction. 
This  breed  resembles  the  golden-spangled  in  the  colour  of  the 
ground,  but  the  spangles  present  the  anomaly  of  being  white 
instead  of  black.  They  were  first  produced,  there  can  be  no 
doubt,  by  crossing  the  golden-spangled  with  white  birds,  and 
even  yet  they  do  not  appear  to  have  been  thoroughly  estab- 
lished or  bred  exactly  true  to  colour.  The  appearance  is  very 
pretty,  and  the  variety  will  no  doubt  become  a  favourite. 

Blue,  grey,  and  cuckoo  or  speckled  Polands  are  also 
occasionally  shown,  but  are  evidently  either  accidental  occur- 
rences, or  the  result  of  cross-breeding,  and  cannot  be  recom- 
mended even  to  the  fancier. 

All  the  bearded  Polands  are  rather  liable  to  grow  up 
"  hump-backed,"  or  "lob-sided"  in  the  body.  Of  course  either 
defect  is  a  fatal  disqualification. 

SULTANS. — This  breed  was  introduced  by  the  well-known 
Miss  E.  Watts,  of  Hampstead,  and  is  a  very  ornamental  bird, 
differing  greatly  in  appearance  from  any  of  the  varieties 
hitherto  named.  In  size  they  are  rather  small,  the  cocks 
weighing  only  from  four  to  five  pounds.  They  make  most 
exquisite  pets,  being  very  tame,  but  at  the  same  time  brisk  and 
lively ;  and  their  quaint  little  ways  never  fail  to  afford  much 
amusement.  They  appear  well  adapted  to  confinement. 

The  plumage  is  pure  white,  crest  included,  in  which  they 
therefore  resemble  the  white  Polands.  They  differ,  however, 
very  greatly  in  appearance.  Their  legs  are  very  short,  and 
feathered  to  the  toes ;  the  thighs  being  also  abundantly  fur- 
nished, and  vulture-hocked.  They  are  likewise  amply  muffed 
and  whiskered  round  the  throat,  and  the  tail  of  the  cock  is 
remarkably  full  and  flowing.  The  crest  differs  from  that  of 
most  other  Polands,  being  more  erect,  and  not  hiding  the  eyes. 


150  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

The  comb  consists  of  two  small  spikes  in  front  of  the  crest. 
The  legs  are  also  white  instead  of  blue,  and  the  foot  has  a 
fifth  toe,  like  the  Dorking  fowL  The  adult  birds  appear 
hardy. 

There  is  a  breed  known  as  Ptarmigans,  which  is  evidently 
a  degenerate  descendant  from  some  former  importation  of 
Sultans. 

Some  special  precautions  are  necessary  in  rearing  Polish 
chickens.  The  prominence  in  the  skull,  which  supports  the 
crest,  is  never  completely  covered  with  bone,  and  is  peculiarly 
sensitive  to  injury.  On  this  account  Cochins,  or  other  large 
heavy  hens,  should  never  be  employed  as  mothers.  A  game  hen 
will  be  the  best.  The  young  also  fledge  early  and  rapidly,  and 
usually  suffer  severely  in  the  process ;  they  therefore  require  an 
ample  allowance  of  the  most  stimulating  food,  such  as  hemp- 
seed,  meat,  and  bread  steeped  in  ale ;  and,  above  all,  they  must 
be  kept  dry. 

Polands  have  certainly  solid  merits.  They  improve  in 
appearance,  at  least  up  to  the  third  year.  In  a  favourable 
locality  they  are  most  prolific  layers,  never  wanting  to  sit,  and 
the  flesh  is  remarkably  good.  They  appear  also  peculiarly 
susceptible  of  attachment  to  their  feeders.  A.nd  lastly,  they 
suffer  remarkably  little  in  appearance  or  condition  from 
exhibition. 

Their  greaC  fault  is  a  peculiar  tendency  to  cold  and  roup — 
the  white-crested  black  variety  being  the  most  delicate  of  all. 
The  dense  crest  becomes  during  a  shower  saturated  with  water, 
and  the  fowls  are  thus  attacked  in  the  most  vital  part.  No 
birds  are  so  affected  by  bad  weather.  In  exposed  or  damp 
situations  they  will  die  off  like  rotting  sheep,  and  it  is  hope- 
less to  expect  any  return.  They  can  only  be  kept  success- 
fully in  warm,  genial  situations,  on  well -drained  ground,  with 
a  chalk  or  sand  sub-soil,  and  with  ample  shelter  to  which 
they  can  resort  during  showers.  In  such  circumstances  they 


CREVECOEUBS.  151 

will  do  well,  and  repay  the  owners  by  an   ample   supply  of 
eggs. 

Mr.  Hewitt  cautions  Polish  breeders  against  attempting  to 
seize  their  birds  suddenly.  The  crest  so  obscures  their  vision 
that  they  are  taken  by  surprise,  and  frequently  so  terrified  as 
to  die  in  the  hand.  They  should,  therefore,  always  be  first 
spoken  to,  or  otherwise  made  aware  of  their  owner's  approach. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

FRENCH    BREEDS. 

SINCE  the  fancy  for  poultry  breeding  spread  in  some  degree  to 
our  Gallic  neighbours,  several  remarkable  breeds  of  fowls  have 
been  introduced  into  England  from  France,  which  it  will  be 
convenient  to  describe  in  pne  chapter.  They  all  desenre 
especially  the  careful  attention  of  the  mercantile  poultry 
breeder,  possessing  as  they  do  in  a  very  high  degree  the  im- 
portant points  of  great  weight  and  excellent  quality  of  flesh, 
with  a  remarkably  small  proportion  of  bones  and  offal  These 
characteristics  our  neighbours  have  assiduously  cultivated  with 
most  marked  success,  and  we  cannot  avoid  remarking  yet 
again  on  the  results  which  might  have  been  produced  in  this 
country  had  more  attention  been  paid  to  them  here,  instead 
of  laying  almost  exclusive  stress  upon  colour  and  other  fancy 
points. 

Most  of  the  French  breeds  have  more  or  less  crest,  which 
naturally  places  this  chapter  next  to  that  on  the  Polish  fowk. 
It  is  remarkable  also  that  they  all  agree  in  being  non-sitters, 
or  at  least  incubate  but  very  rarely. 

CREVECCEURS. — This  breed  has  been  the  longest  known  in 
England,  and- is  the  one  most  preferred  in  France  for  the 


152 


DIFFERENT    BREEDS   OF   FOT7LS. 


CREVECOSURS.  153 

quantity  and  quality  of  its  flesh.  The  full-grown  cock  will  not 
unfrequently  weigh  10  pounds,  but  7J  to  8  pounds  is  a  good 
average. 

In  form  the  Creve  is  very  full  and  compact,  and  the  legs 
are  exceedingly  short,  especially  in  the  hens,  which  appear 
almost  as  if  they  were  creeping  about  on  the  ground.  In 
accordance  with  this  conformation,  their  motions  are  very 
quiet  and  deliberate,  and  they  appear  the  most  contented 
in  confinement  of  any  fowls  we  know.  They  do  not  sit, 
or  very  rarely,  and  are  tolerable  layers  of  very  large  white 


The  comb  is  in  the  form  of  two  well-developed  horns, 
surmounted  by  a  large  black  crest,  and  giving  the  bird  a 
decidedly  "diabolical"  appearance.  Wattles  full,  and,  like  the 
comb,  a  very  dark  red.  The  throat  is  also  furnished  with 
ample  whiskers  and  beard. 

Plumage  mostly  black,  but  in  the  largest  and  finest  birds 
almost  always  mixed  with  gold  or  straw  on  the  hackle  and 
saddle.  Which  is  to  be  preferred  will  depend  upon  circum- 
stances. Judges  at  exhibitions  usually  prefer  a  pure  black  all 
over  ;  and  if  the  object  be  to  obtain  prizes,  we  should  advise 
such  birds  to  be  selected  both  for  breeding  and  show  purposes  ; 
at  the  same  time  we  should  fail  in  our  duty  were  we  not 
distinctly  to  record  our  opinion  that  such  a  choice  is  most 
unfortunate,  as  the  golden-plumaged  birds  are  generally  by  far 
the  largest  and  finest  specimens.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  the  French  have  mainly  brought  these  breeds  to  perfection 
by  seeking  first  the  useful  qualities,  and  if  our  "feather-breed- 
ing "  propensities  be  applied  to  them,  we  much  fear  that  uni- 
formity will  only  be  attained  at  the  price  of  the  deterioration 
of  the  strain  in  size  and  real  value. 

The  merits  of  the  Cre~ve  consist  in  its  edible  qualities,  early 
maturity,  the  facility  with  which  it  can  be  both  kept  and 
reared  in  confinement,  and  the  fine  large  size  of  its  eggs.  The 


154  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

hen  is,  however,  only  a  moderate  layer,  and  the  eggs  are  often 
sterile,  while  the  breed  is  very  delicate  in  this  country,  being 
subject  to  roup,  gapes,  and  throat  diseases.  This  delicacy  of 
constitution  appears  to  improve  somewhat  as  the  fowls  get 
acclimatised,  and  we  should,  therefore,  recommend  good  English- 
bred  rather  than  imported  birds.  Altogether,  we  do  not  recom- 
mend the  Creve  as  a  good  breed  for  general  domestic  purposes ; 
but  it  is  certainly  a  splendid  fowl  for  either  table  or  market, 
and  as  such,  especially  on  a  large  scale,  in  favourable  localities, 
well  repay  the  breeder. 

Our  engraving  was  drawn  in  France  from  remarkably  good 
and  perfect  specimens. 

LA  FLECHE. — In  appearance  this  breed  resembles  the 
Spanish,  from  which  we  believe  it  to  have  been  at  least 
partly  derived.  It  exceeds  that  breed,  however,  in  size,  the 
cock  often  weighing  from  eight  to  even  ten  pounds.  Both 
sexes  have  a  large,  long  body,  standing  on  long  and  powerful 
legs,  and  always  weighing  more  than  it  appears,  on  account 
of  the  dense  and  close-fitting  plumage.  The  legs  are  slate- 
colour,  turning  with  age  to  a  leaden  grey.  The  plumage 
resembles  the  Spanish,  being  a  dense  black  with  green  reflec- 
tions. 

The  look  of  the  head  is  peculiar,  the  comb  being  not  only 
two-horned,  much  like  the  Crevecoeur,  near  the  top  of  the 
head,  but  also  appearing  in  the  form  of  two  little  studs  or 
points  just  in  front  of  the  nostrils.  The  head  is  often  sur- 
mounted by  a  rudimentary  black  crest,  but  English  fanciers  are 
attempting  to  breed  this  out,  and  it  will  probably  be  soon 
disqualified  at  our  shows  :  the  point  is  not  at  present  quite 
settled.  The  wattles  are  very  long  and  pendulous,  of  a  brilliant 
red  colour,  like  the  comb.  The  ear-lobes  are  dead  white,  like 
the  Spanish,  and  exceedingly  developed,  meeting  under  the 
neck  in  good  specimens.  In  fact,  no  breed  could  show  stronger 
traces  of  its  Spanish  origin. 


LA    FLECHE. 


155 


The  appearance  of  the  La  Fleche  fowl  is  very  bold  and 
intelligent,  and  its  habits  active  and  lively  •  at  the  same  time 
it  appears  to  thrive  well  in  confinement.  The  hen  is  an 
excellent  layer  of  very  large  white  eggs,  and  does  not  sit.  The 


flesh  is  excellent,  and  the  tine  white  transparent  skin  makes  a 
very  favourable  appearance  on  the  table,  which  is  only  marred 
by  the  dark  legs.  The  breed  is,  however,  not  very  hardy,  and 
does  not  lay  well  in  winter,  except  in  favourable  circumstances. 
Altogether,  it  is  decidedly  more  suitable  than  the  preceding  for 


156 


DIFFERENT    BREEDS    OF   FOWLS. 


domestic  purposes,  but  still  most  valuable  as  a  table  fowl.  As 
an  egg  producer,  it  is  as  nearly  as  possible  similar  to  the 
Spanish,  not  only  in  the  size  and  number  of  the  eggs,  but  the 
seasons  and  circumstances  in  which  they  may  be  expected.  In 


^^f*f*&*.   ^ 

La  Flfcche  Pullet. 


juiciness  and  flavour  the  flesh  approaches  nearer  to  that  of  the 
Gams  Fowl  than  any  other  breed  we  know. 

The  cocks  suffer  much  from  leg  weakness  and  disease  of  the 
knee-joint,  and  do  not  bear  the  fatigue  and  excitement  of 
exhibition  so  well  as  most  fowls.  They  require,  therefore, 
special  care,  and  the  moderate  use  of  stimulants. 

HOUDANS. — This  fowl  in  many  respects  resembles  the  Dork- 


HOUDANS. 


157 


ing,  and  Dorking  blood  has  evidently  assisted  in  its  formation. 
We  believe  that  a  cross  between  the  latter  and  a  white  Poland 
would  not  be  very  wide  of  the  mark.  Houdans  have  the  size 
deep  compact  body,  short  legs,  and  fifth  toe  of  the  Dorking, 


Houdan  Cock. 


which  in  form  they  closely  resemble,  but  with  much  less  offal 
and  smaller  bones.  The  plumage  varies  considerably,  but  is 
most  usually  white,  with  large  black  spangles,  the  size  of  a 
shilling  in  many  specimens.  We  should  certainly  like  to  see 
the  spangling  reduced  in  size  of  the  markings,  but  sincerely 
hope  this  will  not  be  sought  at  the  expense  of  weight,  in  which 


158 


DIFFERENT   BREEDS    OF    FOWLS. 


the  Houdan  is  pre-eminent  among  the  French  breeds.  We  feel 
certain  that  by  breeding  for  this  more  useful  quality  the  fowl 
may  be  reared  to  a  greater  weight  than  even  the  coloured 
Dorking;  we  have  ourselves  seen  hens  which  weighed  ten 
pounds,  but  such  a  size  is  not  common,  and  very  small  speci- 


Houdan  Hen. 


mens  are  more  often  seen  at  exhibitions  than  of  the  other 
French  varieties. 

The  head  should  be  surmounted  by  a  good  Polish  crest  of 
black  and  white  feathers.  The  wattles  are  pendent  and  well 
developed,  and  the  comb  is  the  most  peculiar  in  formation  of  all 
the  French  breeds,  resembling,  as  has  been  said,  the  two  leaves 
of  a  book  opened,  with  a  long  strawberry  in  the  centre ;  in  the 
hen  it  should  be  very  small  and  rudimentary. 

Imported  Houdans  frequently  want  the  fifth  toe,  evidently 


BREDA    OR    GUELBRES. 


159 


160  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF    FOWLS. 

derived  from  the  Dorking ;  and  it  might  at  this  early  period  be 
easily  bred  out.  We  cannot  but  express  our  regret  this  should 
not  be  done,  regarding  it,  as  we  do,  not  only  as  an  eyesore,  but 
in  our  opinion  more  or  less  connected  with  the  diseased  foot  of 
the  Dorking  fowl.  The  aim  of  fanciers,  however,  seems  to 
be  to  ensure  the  additional  toe  by  careful  selection,  and  in  a  few 
years  it  will  be  established  as  an  indelible  feature. 

With  respect  to  the  merits  of  Houdans,  we  have  no  hesita- 
tion in  pronouncing  them  one  of  the  most  valuable  breeds  ever 
introduced  into  this  country ;  and  in  this  j  udgment  we  are  fully 
corroborated  by  Mr.  F.  H.  Schroder,  of  the  National  Poultry 
Company,  who  expressed  to  us  his  strong  opinion  that  in 
general  usefulness  Houdans  surpassed  all  the  French  varieties, 
to  which  the  company  devote  their  principal  attention.  We 
have  in  this  breed  the  size,  form,  and  quality  of  the  Dorking, 
with  earlier  maturity.  The  hen  is  a  most  prolific  layer  of  good- 
sized  eggs,  which  will  almost  invariably  be  found  fertile — a  point 
the  Dorking  is  very  deficient  in,  as  all  prize  breeders  know  to 
their  cost.  The  chickens  feather  very  rapidly  and  early,  but 
are  nevertheless  exceedingly  hardy,  perhaps  more  so  than  any 
except  Cochins  or  Brahmas,  and  are  therefore  easily  reared  with 
little  loss.  They  are  emphatically  the  fowl  for  a  farmer,  and 
will  yield  an  ample  profit  on  good  feeding,  both  in  eggs  and  flesh. 

Almost  their  only  drawback  is  their  refusal  to  incubate. 
Many,  however,  will  consider  this  an  advantage.  The  bird  will 
bear  a  moderate  amount  of  confinement  well,  but  in  this  respect 
is  not  quite  equal  to  the  Crevecceur. 

BREDA  OR  GUELDRES. — This  fowl  is  of  exceedingly  well- 
proportioned  shape,  with  a  wide,  full,  prominent  breast. 
The  head  carries  a  small  top-knot,  and  surmounts  a  rather 
short,  thick  neck.  The  comb  is  very  peculiar,  being  hollowed 
or  depressed  instead  of  projecting,  which  gives  to  the  head  a 
most  singular  expression.  Cheeks  and  ear-lobes  red ;  wattles 
ditto,  and  in  the  cock  very  long  and  pendulous. 


LA  BRESSE.  161 

The  thighs  are  well  furnished  and  vulture-hocked,  and  the 
shanks  of  the  legs  feathered  to  the  toes,  though  not  very  heavily. 
The  plumage  varies,  black,  white,  and  cuckoo  or  mottled,  being 
most  seen.  The  cuckoo-coloured  are  known  exclusively  by 
the  name  of  "  Gueldres,"  and  the  black  bear  chiefly  the  name 
of  Bredas ;  but  it  is  much  to  be  desired  that  one  name  should 
be  given  to  the  whole  class,  with  simply  a  prefix  to  denote  the 
colour.  We  prefer  ourselves  the  black  variety,  the  plumage  of 
which  is  beautifully  deep  and  rich  in  tone,  with  a  bronze  lustre  ; 
but  Mr.  F.  Schroder,  who  thinks  highly  of  the  breed,  prefers 
the  cuckoo  or  Gueldres  fowl.  This  is  quite  matter  of  fancy,  all 
the  colours  being  alike  in  economic  qualities. 

The  flesh  is  excellent  and  tolerably  plentiful,  very  large 
cocks  weighing  as  much  as  eight  or  nine  pounds.  They  are 
very  good  layers,  and  the  eggs  are  large ;  like  the  other  French 
breeds,  the  hens  do  not  sit.  The  chickens  are  hardy,  and  the 
breed  is  decidedly  useful  and  well  adapted  to  the  English  climate. 

Our  illustration  is  drawn  from  a  very  good  pair  of  the  Black 
or  Breda  variety. 

LA  BRESSE. — This  fowl  is  hardy  and  large,  but  we  cannot, 
at  present  at  least,  consider  it  as  a  distinct  or  established  breed. 
The  birds  are  all  colours  without  distinction,  presenting  exactly 
the  appearance  of  very  large  and  fine  barn-door  or  cross-bred 
fowls ;  and  we  believe  that  it  is,  in  fact,  no  breed,  but  a  mix- 
ture of  fine  specimens  of  different  races.  A  few  years'  breeding 
in  England  will  decide  this,  and  may  possibly  produce  some 
uniformity  in  colour.  At  present  we  can  only  say  that  the 
shape  and  size  should  be  as  nearly  as  possible  that  of  the  Grey 
Dorking,  while  the  colour  may  be  anything.  Of  course,  in  an 
exhibition  pen  the  two  hens  must  match.  Mr.  Schroder  com- 
mended the  La  Bresse  fowl  to  us  as  pre-eminent  for  its  early 
maturity  and  fattening  qualities,  and  we  should  consider  it  a 
valuable  addition  to  our  farm-yard  stock.  By  the  fancier  it 
will  be  little  prized. 

L 


162  DIFFERENT  BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  French  breeds  are  eminently  table 
fowls ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  by  breeding  for  edible 
qualities,  without  paying  over-much  attention  to  feather  or  other 
fancy  points,  our  neighbours  have  succeeded  in  producing  birds 
far  superior  to  any  English  breed — we  will  not  say  in  quality,  so 
long  as  Game  and  Dorking  are  left  us — but  in  smallness  of  bone 
and  offal.  We  should  hope  that  the  lesson  may  not  be  lost 
upon  our  breeders,  and  that  poultry  committees  may  be  led  to 
afford  somewhat  more  encouragement  than  they  have  hitherto 
done  to  the  cultivation  of  size  and  general  proportion,  with  a 
view  to  the  table,  as  distinguished  from  mere  artificial  or  fancy 
qualities. 

Of  all  the  French  breeds  we  should  ourselves  give  the  first 
rank  to  the  Houdan,  on  account  of  its  great  hardihood  and 
plentiful  production  of  eggs.  Next  in  value  we  would  place 
Gueldres  and  La  Fleche.  The  Craves,  beautifully  heavy  birds 
as  they  are,  we  consider  too  delicate  in  our  climate  ever  to 
become  a  general  favourite.  Others,  however,  would  place  them 
first ;  and  as  we  have  endeavoured  to  state  fairly  all  points 
bearing  on  the  subject,  we  must  leave  the  reader  to  form  his 
own  judgment  and  make  his  own  comparison.  One  thing  is 
certain,  that  all  these  fowls  are  composite — are  artificially 
created  j  and  it  would  be  well  if  a  little  more  enterprising 
experiment  in  this  direction  were  made  by  English  breeders. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

BANTAMS. 

THERE  is  not  the  slightest  reason  for  supposing  that  any  of  the 
diminutive  fowls  known  as  Bantams  are  descended  from  an 
original  wild  stock.  They  are  in  many  cases  the  exact 
counterparts  of  ordinary  domestic  breeds,  carefully  dwarfed 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSI 

OF 


BANTAMS.  163 

and  perfected  by  the  art  of  man ;  and  even  where  this  is  not 
so,  the  process  by  which  they  were  produced  is  occasionally 
on  record.  They  are,  in  fact,  more  than  any  other  class, 
"artificial  fowls,"  and  their  attractiveness  consists  rather  in 
their  beauty  than  in  any  economic  value.  "We  can  only 
enumerate  and  give  descriptions  of  the  principal  varieties,  as 
drawn  up  under  the  able  supervision  of  the  Rev.  G.  S.  Cruwys, 
of  Tiverton,  long  celebrated  for  his  success  as  an  exhibitor  and 
breeder  of  these  beautiful  birds. 

SEBRIGHTS. — Cock  not  to  exceed  twenty,  and  hen  sixteen 
ounces.  For  exhibition  still  less  is  preferable,  but  not  for 
breeding.  Carriage  of  the  cock,  the  most  conceited  it  is  pos- 
sible to  conceive  of;  head  thrown  back  till  it  touches  the 
nearly  upright  tail ;  wings  drooping  halfway  down  the  legs  ; 
motions  restless  and  lively,  always  strutting  about  as  if  seeking 
for  antagonists.  The  bird  is,  in  fact,  "game  to  the  back- 
bone," and  will  attack  the  largest  fowl  with  the  utmost 
impudence. 

Plumage  close  and  compact,  and  every  feather  laced  with 
black  all  round  the  edge.  The  shoulder  and  tail  coverts  are 
the  parts  most  likely  to  be  faulty  in  this  ;  but  in  first-class  birds 
every  single  feather  must  be  properly  edged  right  up  to  the 
head.  This  part  usually  appears  darker  from  the  smaller 
size  of  the  feathers;  but  the  nearer  the  head  is  to  the 
rest  of  the  body  in  colour  the  better.  The  only  exceptions 
allowable  in  the  lacing  are  on  the  primary  quills  or  flight- 
feathers  of  the  wings,  which  should  have  a  clear  ground,  and 
be  only  tipped  with  black.  The  tail  feathers  ought  to  be  laced, 
and  in  the  hen  must  be  so ;  but  in  the  cock  this  is  rather  rare. 
In  his  case  a  clear  ground  colour  throughout,  nicely  tipped 
with  black,  may  be  allowed  to  pass  instead. 

The  cock  must  be  perfectly  lien-feathered  throughout,  his 
tail  not  only  square  and  straight,  without  sickles,  but  the  neck 
and  saddle-hackles  resembling  those  of  the  hen,  Mr.  Hewitt^ 

L  2 


164  DIFFERENT  BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

however,  a  most  eminent  authority  on  this  breed,  remarks 
that  while  this  is  imperative  for  exhibition,  he  has  always 
found  such  cocks  nearly  or  quite  sterile,  probably  in  con- 
sequence of  the  long  interbreeding  necessary  to  maintain  the 
strain  in  perfection.  He  recommends,  therefore,  that  a  cock 
for  breeding  should  show  a  moderate  approach  to  sickle-feather- 
ing, when  the  eggs  will  become  productive. 

The  comb  should  be  a  perfect  rose,  with  a  neat  spike 
behind,  pointing  rather  upward,  free  from  any  depression,  and 
rather  livid  in  colour.  Face  round  the  eye  rather  dark.  Eye 
itself  a  sparkling  dark  red.  The  ear  is  supposed  to  be  white, 
but  Mr.  Hewitt  remarks  that  he  never  found  it  so  without  n 
great  falling  off  in  the  lacing  of  the  plumage,  and  a  bluish 
tinge  is  as  near  an  approach  to  it  as  can  be  safely  obtained. 
Bill  slate-coloured  ;  legs  blue  and  clean. 

There  are  two  varieties.  In  the  gold-laced  the  ground 
colour  is  a  rich  golden  yellow.  In  the  silver-laced,  a  pure 
white.  In  both  cases  the  ground  must  be  perfectly  clear  and 
unsullied,  varied  only  by  the  clear  black  line  round  each 
feather,  which  constitutes  the  lacing.  (See  plate  of  "Feathers," 
No.  2.)  Lately  the  Silver  Sebrights  have  shown  a  decided 
golden  tinge,  which  greatly  mars  their  beauty,  and  which  may 
have  arisen  from  an  opinion  frequently  expressed  by  a  well- 
known  breeder,  that  the  clearest  birds  were  bred  from  a  cross 
between  the  gold  and  silver-laced.  If  this  be  the  case,  the 
sooner  such  an  opinion  is  exploded  the  better,  as  it  has  already 
half  ruined  the  beautiful  silver  breed. 

With  respect  to  the  breeding  of  Sebrights,  Mr.  Hewitt 
makes  two  further  remarks.  First,  that  although  at  three- 
years  old  the  birds  become  more  or  less  grizzled  with  white, 
and  therefore  greatly  deteriorated  for  exhibition,  the  stock  then 
produced  from  them  is  frequently  far  superior ;  and  secondly, 
strange  as  the  fact  may  seem,  that  better  marked  birds  are 
usually  obtained  by  mating  a  heavily-laced  cock  with  a  hen 


EAXTAMS.  165 

scarcely  sufficiently   marked,    than   when    both    parents    are 
perfect  in  their  plumage. 

GAME. — In  Game  Bantams  the  plumage  is  precisely  similar 
to  the  corresponding  varieties  of  the  Game  fowl,  from  which 
they  were  undoubtedly  obtained  by  long  interbreeding,  and 
continually  selecting  the  smallest  specimens,  occasionally, 
perhaps,  crossing  with  a  Bantam  to  expedite  the  process.  The 
carnage  and  form  must  also  be  similar,  and  the  drooping  wing, 
so  common  in  other  Bantams,  would  infallibly  disqualify  a  pen 
of  Game. 

In  courage  and  "bottom"  Game  Bantams  are  not  behind 
their  larger  relatives.  In  constitution  they  are  the  hardiest  of 
all  Bantam  breeds. 

In  weight  the  cock  must  not  exceed  one  and  a  half  pounds, 
or  the  hen  twenty  ounces, 

BLACK. — This  is  at  present  one  of  the  most  popular  Bantam 
classes.  The  plumage  is  a  uniform  black,  with  no  trace  of  rust, 
or  any  other  colour,  and,  in  the  cock,  with  a  bright  lustre  like 
that  of  the  Spanish  fowl.  Tail  of  the  cock  full  and  well 
arched ;  legs  short,  dark  blue  or  black  in  colour,  and  perfectly 
clean.  Comb  a  bright  red  rose.  Ear-lobes  white;  face  red, 
in  the  latter  points  resembling  the  Minorca  fowL  Cock  not 
to  exceed  twenty,  hen  eighteen  ounces. 

Black  feather-legged  Bantams  have  now  and  then  been 
shown,  but  never  yet  established  a  footing.  Fashion  changes, 
however ;  and  novelties  being  now  much  sought  after,  we  are 
inclined  to  believe  that  a  good  feather-legged  black-breed  would 
speedily  become  a  favourite. 

WHITE. — This  breed  should  be  as  small  as  possible,  never 
exceeding  two  pounds  per  pair.  Except  that  the  legs  are 
white  and  delicate,  all  other  points  are  similar  to  the  Black 
Bantam,  changing  the  colour  of  the  plumage  from  black  to  a 
spotless  white.  It  should,  however,  be  remembered  that  while 
the  white  ear-lobe  is  required  by  most  judges,  as  in  the  black 
variety,  there  are  some  who  prefer  a  red,  and  this  latter  we 


166  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF  FOWLS. 

must  express  our  own  decided  opinion  is  much  the  smartest 
looking,  and  harmonises  better  with  the  white  plumage.  The 
most  usual  fault  is  a  yellowish  colour  in  the  cock's  saddle.  A 
single  comb  is,  of  course,  fatal. 

A  very  pretty  feather-legged  White  Bantam  is  not  un- 
frequently  seen,  and,  though  long  neglected,  appears  to  be 
coming  into  fashion  again.  They  are  usually  rather  too  large, 
and  attention  will  have  to  be  paid  to  this  particular  if  the 
breed  is  to  become  popular. 

NANKIN. — This  is  one  of  the  old  breeds  of  Bantams,  and  at 
one  time  nearly  disappeared,  but  attempts  have  been  recently 
made  to  re-introduce  it.  The  ground  colour  is  a  pale  orange 
yellow,  usually  with  a  little  pencilling  on  the  hackle.  The 
best  tail,  to  our  fancy,  is  a  pure  black,  with  the  coverts  slightly 
bronzed.  The  comb  is  rose;  and  the  dark  legs  should  be 
perfectly  clean. 

PEKIN  OR  COCHIN  BANTAMS. — This  most  remarkable  of  all 
Bantam  breeds  has  only  been  introduced  a  few  years,  the 
original  progenitors  having  been  stolen  from  the  Summer 
Palace  at  Pekin  during  the  Chinese  war.  They  were  first 
shown  in  1863.  They  exactly  resemble  Buff  Cochins  in  colour 
and  form,  possessing  the  feather-leg,  abundant  fluff,  and  all  the 
other  characteristics  of  the  parent  breed  in  full  perfection,  and 
presenting  a  most  singular  appearance.  They  are  not  yet 
common,  and  the  interbreeding  necessitated  by  only  one  origi- 
nal stock  existing,  has  caused  much  sterility  and  constitutional 
weakness.  The  strongest  birds  have  been  bred  by  crossing 
with  other  feather-legged  Bantams  to  introduce  fresh  blood, 
and  then  breeding  back  to  the  pure  strain.  Pekin  Bantams 
are  very  tame,  and  make  excellent  pets. 

JAPANESE. — This  is  the  only  addition  to  our  poultry-yards 
yet  imported  from  Japan,  though  we  should  hope  yet  to  receive 
from  that  country  some  accessions  also  to  our  larger  kinds.  The 
Japanese  Bantam  is  very  short-legged,  and  differs  from  most  of 
the  older  varieties  in  having  a  very  large  single  comb.  The 


THE  "VARIOUS"  CLASS.  167 

colour  varies.  They  are  often  shown  mottled  or  cuckoo- 
coloured,  but  what  we  like  best  is  a  pure  white  body  with 
glossy,  jet-black  tail. 

Bantam  chickens  require  a  little  more  animal  food  than 
other  fowls,  and,  for  a  week  or  two,  rather  extra  care  to  keep 
them  dry.  After  that  they  are  reared  as  easily  as  other  fowls, 
and  should  indeed  be  rather  scantily  fed  to  keep  down  the  size. 
The  hens  are  good  mothers,  and  are  often  employed  to  rear 
small  game;  and  are  not  bad  layers,  if  the  eggs  were  only 
larger.  We  believe  them,  however,  to  produce  quite  as  much 
for  their  food  as  ordinary  breeds.  But  their  chief  use  is  in  the 
garden,  where  they  eat  many  slugs  and  insects,  with  very  little 
damage.  On  this  account  they  may  be  usefully  and  profitably 
kept  where  a  separate  poultry-yard  is  found  impracticable.  We 
should  prefer  the  Game  variety,  as  being  hardiest ;  and,  being 
good  foragers,  five  or  six  of  these  may  be  kept  in  a  garden  for 
almost  nothing,  requiring  only  a  house  two  feet  square  to  roost 
and  lay  in. 

Bantam  eggs  are  the  very  thing  to  tempt  the  appetite  of 
an  invalid,  and  are  just  nicely  cooked  by  pouring  boiling  water 
over  them  upon  the  breakfast-table. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  "VARIOUS'*  CLASS. 

UNDER  this  heading  we  propose  to  describe,  shortly,  the  principal 
breeds  of  poultry  which  usually  appear  in  the  class  "  for  any 
other  variety  "  at  our  shows,  but  have  never  established  their 
claim  to  a  special  class  of  their  own.  For  the  most  part  these 
breeds  have  little  economic  value,  but  are  too  well  marked  in 
their  characteristics  to  be  entirely  passed  by. 

DUMPIES,  OR  CREEPERS. — This  is  probably  the  most  useful 
variety  of  any  mentioned  in  this  chapter,  and  under  various 
names,  such  as  Go  Laighs  and  Bakies,  has  long  been  known 


168  DIFFERENT  BREEDS  OF  FOWLS. 

and  valued  in  Scotland,  though  never  popular  in  this  country. 
The  principal  characteristic  is  the  extreme  shortness  of  the 
shank,  or  leg  bone,  which  should  not  exceed  two  inches  from 
the  hock  joint  to  the  ground.  In  other  respects  they  most 
resemble  Dorkings,  lacking,  however,  the  fifth  toe,  and  being 
far  more  hardy  than  that  variety.  The  hens  are  good  layers  of 
rather  large  eggs,  and  as  mothers  cannot  be  surpassed.  The 
plumage  is  generally  an  irregular  speckle,  and  it  is  difficult  to 
get  them  any  uniform  colour.  The  cock  should  weigh  six  or 
seven  and  the  hen  five  or  six  pounds. 

Dumpies  certainly  deserve  to  be  better  known.  They  have 
no  particular  faults,  and,  combining  as  they  do  very  fair  laying 
with  great  hardiness  and  first-class  edible  qualities,  they  must 
be  considered  decidedly  profitable  fowls.  Their  extreme  short- 
ness of  leg  also  points  out  their  value  as  a  cross  to  correct  the 
"  stiltiness "  of  some  of  our  larger  breeds,  whilst  the  white- 
ness and  quality  of  the  flesh  would  be  improved  at  the  same 
time. 

REDCAPS. — This  must  also  be  regarded  as  a  profitable  fowl. 
It  is  a  kind  of  Golden-spangled  Hamburgh,  with  the  difference 
of  being  almost  as  large  as  a  Dorking,  and  having  the  rose 
comb  most  prodigiously  developed,  that  of  the  cock  being  often 
three  inches  across,  and  too  heavy  to  stand  upright.  They 
cannot  therefore  be  regarded  as  ornamental,  which  is  probably 
the  reason  they  do  not  meet  with  much  general  approval,  being 
moreover  often  dark  on  the  breast,  and  far  inferior  to  the 
Hamburghs  in  beauty  of  marking.  But  they  are  enormous 
layers,  not  to  be  surpassed  by  any  variety;  and,  with  the 
advantage  of  a  large,  plump  body,  we  must  pronounce  them  to 
be  in  economic  value  equal  to  any  we  know.  They  are  hardy 
and  easily  reared,  but  not  often  met  with  except  in  York- 
shire, whence  they  should  be  procured  if  a  good  stock  is 
desired. 

SILKY,  OR  NEGRO  FOWLS. — This  breed  possesses  two  distinct 
peculiarities.  The  webs  of  the  feathers  have  no  adhesion,  and 


SILKY    FOWLS. 


1G9 


the  plumage  is  therefore  "  silky,"  or  consisting  of  a  number  of 
single  filaments,  which  makes  the  bird  appear  much  larger  than 
-eally  is,  the  actual  weight  of  the  cock  being  generally  under 


It  T 


three  pounds,  and  of  the  hen  about  two  pounds.  The  colour  is 
usually  pure  white,  but  other  colours  are  occasionally  seen.  The 
second  peculiarity  is  the  dark  tint  of  the  bones  and  skin,  from 
which  the  name  of  "  negro  "  fowls  is  derived.  The  skin  is  of  a 
very  dark  violet  colour,  approaching  to  black,  even  the  comb  and 
wattles  being  a  dull  dark  purple.  The  bones  also  are  covered 
•with  a  nearly  black  membrane,  which  makes  the  fowl  anything 
but  pleasant  to  look  at  upon  the  table  ;  but  if  the  natural 


Silky  Fowls. 

repugnance  to  this  can  be  overcome,  the  meat  itself  is  white, 
•and  very  good  eating,  indeed  superior  to  that  of  most  other 
breeds. 

The  plumage  is  often  so  excessively  developed  as  to  give 
the  birds  a  most  grotesque  appearance.  Our  illustration  is  not 
in  the  least  exaggerated,  and  is  a  good  representation  of  many 
specimens  of  the  breed. 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 


170  DIFFERENT 


The  comb  varies  in  shape;  but  a  Malay  comb  is  best. 
There  is  generally  a  small  crest  on  the  top  of  the  head.  The 
legs  are  mostly  well  feathered  to  the  ground,  and  often  have 
five  toes  ;  but  neither  point  is  universal. 

The  sole  value  of  the  Silky  Fowl  is  as  a  mother  to  Bantam, 
or  other  small  and  delicate  chickens,  such  as  pheasants  or 
partridges.  For  such  purposes  they  are  unequalled,  the  loose 
long  plumage  affording  the  most  perfect  shelter  possible.  They 
are,  of  course,  peculiarly  susceptible  to  cold  or  wet,  and  have 
no  other  value  than  that  stated,  except  from  their  singular  and 
not  unornamental  appearance. 

The  EMU,  or  SILKY  COCHIN  is  an  occasional  sport  from  the 
ordinary  Cochin  fowl.  The  plumage  resembles  that  of  the 
preceding  variety ;  but  in  every  other  point  the  fowl  is  a  true- 
bred  Cochin.  The  loose  feathering  being  no  real  protection 
from  wet,  this  breed,  like  the  other,  is  very  delicate  in  our 
climate. 

FRIZZLED  FOWLS  present  a  most  remarkable  appearance, 
every  feather  in  good  specimens  being  curved,  or  turned  back 
from  the  body,  so  as  to  show  a  portion  of  the  under  side,  like 
the  curved  feathers  in  the  tail  of  a  common  drake.  The  colour 
of  the  plumage  is  generally  white,  with  single  combs;  but 
double  combs  and  various  colours  are  also  seen. 

Frizzled  fowls  are,  as  might  be  supposed,  exceedingly  deli- 
cate, and  most  uncertain  layers.  The  flesh  is  also  inferior,  and 
they  have  therefore  no  economic  value,  whilst  they  cannot  even 
be  termed  ornamental.  Their  only  recommendation  is  their 
singularity,  in  which  certainly  it  would  be  very  hard  to  surpass 
them. 

RUMPLESS  FOWLS  are  of  various  colours,  the  only  essential 
characteristic  being  the  absolute  want  of  a  tail,  or  of  any 
approach  to  one.  It  is,  indeed,  exceedingly  difficult  to  breed 
any  particular  colour,  as  few  persons  have  interest  in  the  breed 
sufficien  t  to  persevere  long  enough  for  securing  uniformity.  The 
handsomest  are  white  :  black  also  looks  well ;  but  speckled  are 


LAIiX    DOOIL 


171 


172  DIFFERENT   BREEDS   OF   FOWLS. 

most  common.  The  size  also  varies  very  much,  ranging  from 
tliree  to  seven  pounds  each. 

In  this  variety  not  only  are  the  tail  feathers  absent,  but 
the  caudal  vertebrae  are  either  wanting  altogether,  or  only 
rudimentary.  The  hens  are  usually  very  fair  layers,  sitters, 
and  mothers,  and  of  average  quality  for  the  table ;  the  eggs, 
however,  are  very  apt  to  prove  sterile.  On  the  whole,  the 
breed  has  few  decided  faults,  and  is  hardy ;  the  only  reason,  we 
suppose,  that  it  is  not  generally  bred,  being  that  birds  certainly 
look  handsomer  with  a  tail  than  without  one. 

RUSSIANS. — This  breed  is  mostly  kept  in  Scotland.  It  is 
decidedly  a  "  rough-looking "  fowl,  being  ornamented  with 
tufts  of  feathers  on  each  jaw,  and  an  abundant  beard  under  the 
chin.  The  colour  is  generally  white  or  buff ;  but  black  is  also 
seen,  with  mixed  colours  also ;  the  most  valuable  are  spangled 
like  Hamburghs.  On  the  whole,  this  is  a  good  useful  fowl,  the 
ilesh  being  satisfactory,  whilst  the  hens  are  good  layers  and 
rather  small  eaters.  The  breed  is  hardy. 

Other  fowls  are  occasionally  shown,  but  do  not  require 
special  notice,  and  we  believe  are  very  often  mere  accidental 
offshoots,  or  crosses,  from  well-known  breeds.  Some  few,  such 
as  Rangoons  and  Chittagongs,  are  evidently  chiefly  Malay  in 
their  parentage  ;  but  fowls  are  constantly  shown  in  the  class 
for  "any  other  distinct  varieties"  which  would  defy  any 
attempt  to  describe  their  origin.  When  the  parentage  is 
evident,  the  principal  value  of  such  specimens  is  to  show  the 
effect  of  crossing,  in  which  respect  they  are  often  useful.  This 
part  of  poultry-breeding  is  too  much  neglected.  By  it  in  a 
great  measure  has  all  other  agricultural  stock  been  brought 
to  its  present  perfection ;  and  when  steady  effort  shall  be 
made  to  combine  the  qualities  of  some  of  our  best  varieties, 
establishing  the  strain  afterwards  by  careful  selection,  we 
believe  we  shall  have  a  breed  of  fowls  which  in  size,  prolificacy, 
and  edible  qualities  united,  will  surpass  any  kind  hitherto 
known. 


SECTION   IV. 


TURKEYS,  ORNAMENTAL  POULTRY,  AND 
WATERFOWL. 


SECTION    IV. 


WE  shall  make  little  remark  introductory  to  this  Section 
beyond  observing,  that  whether  the  varieties  of  Poultry 
therein  described  are  profitable  or  not,  will  depend  almost 
exclusively  upon  the  situation  and  outward  circumstances 
of  the  breeder.  They  cannot,  like  the  preceding,  be  kept 
almost  anywhere — they  must  have  accommodation  and 
space  suitable  to  their  nature  and  habits.  Under  such 
conditions  alone  will  they  be  remunerative,  and  under 
such  only,  therefore,  should  they  be  kept. 

Pheasants  may  be  excepted,  and  indeed  scarcely  come 
under  the  head  of  Poultry  at  all.  But  we  have  included 
them  on  account  of  their  increasing  popularity  as  pets; 
and  the  pages  we  have  devoted  to  their  management  will 
not  be  unacceptable  to  many  amateurs.  The  number  of 
their  admirers  is  growing,  and  the  time  may  yet  come 
when  increased  domestication  shall  add  them  to  the 
regular  stock  of  our  poultry-yards 


TUEKETS,   ORNAMENTAL    POULTRY,  AND 
WATERFOWL 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

TURKEYS.      GUINEA-FOWL.       PEA-FOWL. 

TURKEYS. — The  most  opposite  opinions  have  been  expressed  by 
different  breeders  as  to  whether  or  not  the  rearing  of  turkeys 
in  England  can  be  made  profitable ;  and  the  general  judgment, 
we  are  bound  to  say,  seems  to  be  that  they  can  barely  be  made 
to  repay  the  cost  of  their  food.  There  are  not  wanting,  how- 
ever, those  who  from  their  own  experience  maintain  the 
contrary ;  and  we  believe  that  where  the  balance-sheet  is 
unsatisfactory,  the  cause  will  generally  be  found  in  heavy  losses 
from  want  of  care.  The  usual  mortality  in  turkey  chicks  is 
tremendous,  and  quite  sufficient  to  eat  up  any  possible  amount 
of  profit ;  but  there  are  many  persons  who  for  years  have 
reared  every  chick;  and,  under  these  circumstances,  they  will 
yield  a  very  fair  return. 

Without  depending  upon  any  one  single  breeder,  we  have 
taken  much  pains  to  gather,  from  the  best  authorities,  the 
essentials  of  such  successful  management ;  and  wherever  our 
directions  shall  be  found  to  differ  from  others  previously  pub- 
lished, the  reader  may  rely  with  confidence  that  the  treatment 
given  is  such  as  has  been  thoroughly  tested  and  proved  to  give 
the  best  results. 

The  first  main  point  to  remember  is,  that  for  about  the 


17  C        TURKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND   WATERFOWL. 

first  six  weeks  or  two  months  the  turkey  chicks  are  excessively 
delicate,  and  that  the  very  slightest  shower,  even  in  warm 
weather,  will  often  carry  off  half  of  a  large  brood.  When 
about  two  months  old,  however,  the  red  naked  protuberances 
about  the  neck  and  throat  begin  to  appear,  and  as  soon  as 
these  are  fairly  developed,  the  chicks  become  poults,  and  arc 
soon  hardier  than  any  other  fowl,  braving  any  weather  with 
impunity. 

It  is  therefore  well  worth  while,  and  absolutely  necessary 
to  pecuniary  success,  to  provide  special  shelter  for  the  young 
broods  during  the  critical  period,  ordinary  poultry  accommo- 
dation being  insufficient.  Even  damp  ground  is  so  fatal  that 
a  boarded  floor  is  advisable.  "When  any  number  are  to  be 
reared — and  we  certainly  cannot  recommend  for  profit  the 
rearing  of  turkeys  on  a  small  scale — we  should  advise  the 
erection  of  either  a  very  spacious  shed,  floored  with  plank,  or  a 
large  building  of  one  storey  high,  to  be  devoted  entirely  during 
the  season  to  the  turkey  stock.  Of  course,  by  a  building  we 
mean  a  mere  shell  of  four  bare  walls,  well  roofed,  and  well 
lighted.  With  shelter  of  this  kind  there  hardly  need  be  a 
chick  lost,  except  from  accident. 

It  has  been  stated  by  many  that  the  number  of  hens  allowed 
to  a  turkey  cock  maybe  unlimited;  and  it  certainly  does  appear 
indisputable  that  one  visit  to  the  cock  is  sufficient  to  render 
fertile  all  the  eggs  laid  by  a  turkey  hen.  The  best  breeders, 
however,  affirm  that  as  the  number  of  hens  allowed  to  one 
bird  approaches  a  score,  the  chicks  show  falling  off  in  consti- 
tution; and  the  number  ought  therefore  to  be  limited  to  twelve 
or  fifteen — quite  enough  brood  stock  for  even  a  large  establish- 
ment. The  turkey  cock  may  bo  used  for  breeding  at  two 
years  old,  and  the  hen  at  twelve  months,  but  are  not  in  their 
prime  till  a  year  older.  They  will  be  first-class  breeding  stock, 
as  a  rule,  for  at  least  two  years  later,  and  many  cocks  in 
particular  will  breed  splendid  chickens  for  considerably  longer; 


TURKEYS.  177 

a  good  bird  should  not  therefore  be  discarded  till  his  progeny 
show  symptoms  of  degeneracy. 

The  size  of  the  hens  is  of  special  importance,  much  more 
than  that  of  the  cock,  in  whom  good  shape,  strength,  and  spirit 
are  of  more  value,  if  combined  with  a  fair  good  size. 

The  turkey-hen  generally  lays  about  eighteen  eggs — some- 
times only  ten  or  a  dozen,  and  when  each  egg  has  been  taken 
away  when  laid,  it  may  be  more.  "We  once  heard  of  ninety 
eggs  being  laid  by  a  turkey-hen,  but  can  scarcely  credit  such  a 
statement.  A  very  good  plan  is  to  give  a  turkey's  first  seven 
eggs  to  a  common  hen — quite  as  many  as  she  can  cover — when 
there  will  be  generally  just  about  enough  laid  subsequently  to 
be  hatched  by  the  turkey  herself.  The  best  time  to  hatch  the 
chicks  out  is  in  the  months  of  May  and  June,  or  even  July ; 
and  all  eggs  set  should  be  marked,  as  the  turkey  often  lays 
several  after  commencing  incubation. 

In  a  state  of  nature,  the  turkey-cock  is  constantly  seeking 
to  destroy  both  the  eggs  and  chickens,  which  the  female  as 
sedulously  endeavours  to  conceal  from  him.  There  is  generally 
more  or  less  of  the  same  disposition  when  domesticated,  and, 
•when  it  appears,  it  must  be  carefully  provided  against ;  but  the 
behaviour  of  very  many  cocks  is  quite  unexceptionable ;  and 
as  such  a  quiet  disposition  saves  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  it  is 
always  worth  while  to  ascertain  the  character  of  the  cock  of  the 
year  in  this  respect.  If  he  be  friendly  to  the  chicks  and  sitting 
hens,  he  may  be  left  at  large ;  if  otherwise,  he  must  be  kept 
away. 

The  turkey-hen  is  very  prudish,  but  gives  scarcely  any 
trouble  while  sitting.  She  sits  so  constantly  that  it  is  needful 
to  remove  her  daily  from  her  nest  to  feed,  or  she  would 
absolutely  starve.  Nevertheless,  when  absent  she  is  apt  to  be 
forgetful,  and  therefore,  if  allowed  to  range  at  liberty,  care 
should  be  taken  that  she  returns  in  time — twenty  minutes.  A 
better  plan,  however,  is  to  let  her  have  her  liberty  only  in  a 

M 


178      TURKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND   WATER- FOWL. 

confined  run  of  grass.  Besides  her  daily  feed,  a  water  vessel 
and  some  soft  food  should  be  always  within  her  reach.  No 
one  must  visit  the  hatching-house  but  the  regular  attendant, 
or  the  hens  will  get  startled,  and  probably  break  many  eggs, 
which  easily  happens,  from  the  great  weight  of  the  birds. 

Many  have  alleged  that  the  turkey  sits  thirty-one  days. 
This  is  an  error.  The  chicks  break  the  shell  from  the  twenty- 
sixth  to  the  twenty-ninth  day,  scarcely  ever  later.  The  day 
but  one  before  the  hatching  is  expected,  the  hen  should  be 
plentifully  fed,  the  nest  cleaned  of  any  dung  or  feathers  during 
her  absence,  and  an  ample  supply  of  food  and  water  placed 
where  she  can  reach  it,  as  she  must  not  again  be  disturbed  till 
the  chicks  are  out.  In  dry  weather,  if  the  nest  be  in  a  dry 
place,  the  eggs  will  have  been»  daily  sprinkled  as  described  in 
Chapter  IY.  With  these  precautions,  there  will  rarely  fail  to 
be  a  good  hatch. 

The  egg-shells  may  be  cleared  away  after  hatching  has  pro- 
ceeded some  hours,  but  the  chicks  should  never  be  taken  away 
from  the  hen,  and  never  be  forced  to  eat.  The  latter  practice  is 
very  general,  as  turkey  chicks  are  very  stupid,  and  do  not 
seem  to  know  how  to  peck.  But  a  much  better  plan  is  to  put 
two  ordinary  hen's  eggs  under  the  turkey,  five  or  six  days  after 
she  began  to  sit,  which  will  then  hatch  about  the  same  time  as 
her  own,  and  the  little  chickens  will  teach  the  young  turkeys, 
quite  soon  enough,  what  they  should  do.  "Water  or  milk  may 
be  given,  however,  by  dipping  the  tips  of  the  finger  or  a  camel- 
hair  pencil  in  the  fluid,  and  applying  it  to  the  end  of  their 
beaks. 

The  usual  feeding  is  oatmeal  and  bread-crumbs,  mixed  with 
boiled  nettles.  Such  food  is  not  good,  as  turkey  chickens  for  a 
few  weeks  have  a  great  tendency  to  diarrhoea,  which  the 
oatmeal  rather  increases,  and  the  result  is  a  weakening  of  the 
system,  and  frequently  many  deaths.  The  very  best  feeding  at 
first — say  for  a  week — is  hard-boiled  eggs,  chopped  small, 


TURKEYS. 

mixed  with  nothing  but  minced  dandelion.  With  regard  to  the 
choice  of  this  herb,  Mr.  Trotter — who  was  the  first  to  study 
turkey  treatment  rationally— and  after  him  many  others,  have 
observed  that,  when  at  liberty,  the  young  birds  invariably  choose 
the  dandelion  before  all  other  green  food,  and  it  probably  serves 
to  keep  the  bowels  in  proper  order.  When  dandelions  cannot 
be  obtained — and  it  is  well  worth  while  to  grow  them  where 
turkeys  are  reared — boiled  nettles  chopped  fine  are  perhaps  the 
best  substitute. 

At  the  end  of  a  week  or  ten  days  some  bread-crumbs  and 
barley-meal  may  gradually  be  added  to  the  egg,  which  may  be 
by  degrees  lessened,  until  quite  discontinued  at  the  end  of  three 
weeks.  About  this  time,  a  portion  of  boiled  potato  forms  an 
excellent  addition  to  the  food,  and  by  degrees  some  small  grain 
may  be  added  also — in  fact,  assimilating  the  diet  very  much  to 
that  of  other  poultry.  Curds  also  are  excellent  as  a  portion  of 
the  dietary,  but  must  be  squeezed  very  dry  before  they  are 
given.  They  are  easiest  prepared  by  adding  a  pinch  of  alum 
to  a  quart  of  milk  slightly  warmed. 

By  this  feeding,  the  little  chicks  will  get  well  through  their 
first  great  danger — the  tendency  to  diarrhoea  already  alluded  to ; 
and  the  cost  of  the  egg  will  be  repaid  by  the  extra  number 
reared. 

The  second  peril  to  be  guarded  against  is  cold  and  damp  :  a 
wetting  is  absolutely  fatal.  The  chicks  should  be  kept  entirely 
under  the  shed,  on  a  board  floor  kept  scrupulously  clean  and 
nicely  sanded,  except  during  settled  sunny  weather,  when  they 
may  be  allowed  a  little  liberty  on  the  grass,  after  the  dew  is 
quite  dry.  But  in  cold  or  windy  weather,  however  fine,  they 
must  be  kept  in  the  shed,  and  well  screened  from  the  wind.  If 
there  be  a  one-storey  building,  their  best  place  will  be  the  top 
floor,  the  bottom  being  devoted  to  the  sitting  hens  and  other 
adult  stock.  Their  water  also  must  be  so  supplied  that  they 
cannot  wet  themselves  by  any  possibility ;  and  these  precau- 

ii  2 


180      TURKEYS,   ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,   AND   WATER- FOWL. 

tions  must  be  continued  till  they  are  nine  or  ten  weeks  old, 
when  they  will  begin  to  "  put  out  the  red,"  as  it  is  called,  or  to 
develop  the  singular  red  excrescences  on  the  neck  so  charac- 
teristic of  the  turkey  breed.  This  process  will  last  some  little 
time,  and  when  completed  the  birds  will  be  pretty  fully  fledged. 
They  are  now  hardy,  but  must  not  be  too  suddenly  exposed  to 
rain  or  cold  winds.  Take  some  reasonable  care  of  them  for  a 
while  longer,  and  very  soon  they  will  have  become  the  hardiest 
birds  known  in  the  poultry-yard,  braving  with  impunity  the 
fiercest  storms,  and  even  preferring,  if  permitted,  to  roost  on 
high  trees  through  the  depth  of  winter.  In  fact,  turkeys  will 
rarely  roost  in  a  fowl-house ;  and  a  very  high  open  shed  should 
therefore  be  provided — the  higher  the  better — the  perches  being 
placed  as  high  as  possible.  They  might  be  left  to  their  natural 
inclination  with  perfect  safety  'so  far  as  their  general  health  is 
concerned  ;  but  in  very  severe  weather  their  feet,  if  roosting  on 
exposed  trees,  are  apt  to  become  frost-bitten. 

To  attain  great  size,  animal  food  and  good  feeding  generally 
must  be  supplied  from  the  first.  By  this  means  astonishing 
weights  have  been  attained ;  we  knew  of  a  cock  which  weighed 
very  nearly  forty  pounds,  and  a  full-grown  bird  much  less  than 
thirty  would  stand  little  chance  at  a  good  show.  "We  do  not 
say  that  such  weights  are  profitable — we  believe  the  contrary — 
but  we  do  contend  that  fair  good  feeding,  leading  to  fair  good 
size,  is  the  only  way  to  extract  profit  from  poultry  of  any  kind. 

The  ordinary  domestic  Turkey  is  of  two  kinds — the  Norfolk 
(black  all  over)  and  the  Cambridge.  The  latter  is  of  all  colours 
— the  best,  to  our  fancy,  being  a  dark  copper  bronze ;  but  fawn 
colour  and  pure  white  are  often  seen,  as  are  also  variegated 
birds,  which  occasionally  present  a  very  magnificent  appearance. 
The  white  variety  is  most  delicate  and  difficult  to  rear  of  all, 
but  the  dark  Cambridge  takes  most  prizes,  and  usually  attains 
the  greatest  size. 

We  cannot  here  go  into  the  question  of  the  origin  of  the 


GUINEA-FOWL.  181 

domestic  Turkey,  or  give  any  detailed  account  of  the  wild 
varieties.  We  can  only  avow  our  belief  that  a  cross  with  the 
well-known  American  wild  bird  greatly  improves  the  stamina 
of  the  young  chickens,  and,  wherever  possible,  should  be  em- 
ployed. The  two  races  closely  resemble  each  other,  even  if  they 
are  not  the  same ;  and  in  such  cases  "  wild  blood  "  is  of  great 
service.  We  must  also  allude  to  the  surpassing  beauty  of  the 
celebrated  wild  Honduras  breed,  and  express  a  hope  that  it  may 
yet  be  made  a  permanent  addition  to  English  stock.  In  this 
magnificent  bird  are  seen  in  the  greatest  brilliancy  all  the 
colours  of  the  rainbow,  whilst  in  size  and  edible  qualities  it  is 
little  if  at  all  inferior  to  its  more  sober-looking  relatives.  That 
it  can  be  domesticated  there  is  not  the  slightest  doubt  j  and 
although  sufficient  have  never  yet  been  imported  to  establish 
the  breed  in  Europe,  we  hope  yet  to  see  English  yards  tenanted 
by  a  bird  which  combines  first-class  merit  as  a  table  fowl,  with 
a  really  Oriental  splendour. 

GUINEA-FOWL. — This  bird,  called  also  the  Gallina  and 
Pintado,  mates  in  pairs,  and  an  equal  number  of  males  and 
females  must  therefore  be  provided  to  prevent  disappointment. 
There  appear  to  be  ten  or  twelve  wild  varieties,  but  only  one 
has  been  domesticated  in  this  country. 

To  commence  breeding  Guinea-fowls,  it  is  needful  to  pro- 
cure some  eggs  and  set  them  under  a  common  hen  j  for  if  old 
birds  be  purchased  they  will  wander  off  for  miles  as  soon  as 
they  are  set  at  liberty,  and  never  return ;  indeed,  no  fowl  gives 
so  much  trouble  from  its  wandering  habits.  If  hatched  in  the 
poultry-yard,  however,  and  regularly  fed,  they  will  remain ;  but 
must  always  have  one  meal  regularly  at  night,  or  they  will 
scarcely  ever  roost  at  home.  Nothing,  however,  will  persuade 
them  to  sleep  in  the  fowl-house,  and  they  usually  roost  in  the 
lower  branches  of  a  tree. 

The  hen  lays  pretty  freely  from  May  or  June  to  about 
August.  She  is  a  very  shy  bird,  and  if  eggs  are  taken  from 


TURKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,  AND   WATER-FOWL. 

her  nest  with  her  knowledge,  will  forsake  it  altogether,  and 
seek  another,  which  she  conceals  with  the  most  sedulous  care. 
A  few  should  therefore  always  be  left,  and  the  nest  never  be 
visited  when  she  is  in  sight.  It  is  best  to  give  the  earliest  eggs 
to  a  common  hen,  as  the  Guinea-fowl  herself  frequently  sits  too 
late  to  rear  a  brood.  If  "broody"  in  due  season,  however,  she 
rarely  fails  to  hatch  nearly  all.  Incubation  is  from  twenty-six 
to  twenty-nine  or  thirty  days. 

The  chicks  require  food  almost  immediately — within,  at 
most,  six  hours  after  hatching — and  should  be  fed  and  cared  for 
in  the  same  manner  as  young  turkeys,  though  they  may  be 
allowed  rather  more  liberty.  It  should  be  observed,  however, 
that  they  require  more  constant  feeding  than  any  other 
chickens,  a  few  hours'  abstinence  being  fatal  to  them  ;  and  they 
need  also  rather  more  animal  food  to  rear  them  successfully  and 
keep  them  in  good  condition,  especially  in  the  winter.  The 
chicks  are  very  strong  on  their  legs,  and  in  fine  weather  may 
be  allowed  to  wander  with  the  hen  when  very  young. 

The  male  birds  of  this  breed  are  rather  quarrelsome,  and 
very  apt  to  beat  other  fowls. 

The  flesh  of  the  Guinea-fowl  is  of  exquisite  flavour,  much 
like  that  of  the  pheasant.  The  body  about  equals  in  size  an 
ordinary  Dorking,  and  is  very  plump  and  well-proportioned. 
Like  all  other  finely  flavoured  birds,  they  should  never  be  over- 
fed or  crammed,  as  is  sometimes  done.  Who  would  think  of 
cramming  a  pheasant  to  make  it  more  "fit  for  the  table  ?" 

PEA-FOWL. — The  distinguishing  characteristics  of  this  well- 
known  bird,  are  the  crest  or  aigrette  on  the  top  of  the  head, 
and  the  peculiar  structure  of  the  tail  covert  feathers.  The 
true  tail  of  the  peacock  is  short  and  hidden,  and  what  we  call 
the  "tail"  is,  strictly  speaking,  an  excessive  development  of  the 
tail-coverts  or  side  feathers,  which  occasionally  have  been 
known  to  extend  more  than  a  yard  and  a  half  from  their 
insertions. 


PEA- FOWL.  183 

The  colour  of  the  ordinary  peacock  is  too  well  known  to 
need  description.  White  and  pied  varieties  are  also  bred,  but 
are,  in  our  judgment,  far  less  ornamental.  This  species,  called 
by  naturalists  Pavo  cristatus,  has  a  crest  consisting  of  about 
t\vo  dozen  feathers,  only  webbed  at  the  very  tips. 

There  is  another  variety,  if  possible  still  more  beautiful, 
known  as  the  Javan  Pea-fowl,  or  Pavo  muticus.  This  bird  is 
larger  than  the  common  Pea-fowl,  the  male  sometimes  measur- 
ing more  than  seven  feet  from  the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  "tail." 
The  naked  space  round  the  eye  is  also  of  a  livid  blue  colour, 
and  the  feathers  of  the  neck  are  laminated,  or  resembling 
scales.  The  most  characteristic  difference,  however,  is  in  the 
crest,  which  is  much  higher,  and  the  feathers  of  which  are 
webbed,  though  rather  scantily,  from  the  base,  instead  of  being 
bare  till  near  the  tips.  The  bird  also  differs  in  only  possessing 
liis  long  and  splendid  ocellated  train  during  the  breeding 
season,  at  other  times  appearing  with  feathers  not  so  long,  and 
destitute  of  the  well-known  "  eyes,"  but  of  a  rich  green  with  gold 
reflections,  beautifully  and  regularly  "  barred,"  or  "  pencilled  " 
on  a  very  large  scale,  with  whity-brown.  This  splendid  bird  is 
not  very  common. 

A  third  variety  has  recently  been  described,  called  the 
"  black- winged  "  Pea-fowl,  in  which  the  shoulders  and  most  of 
the  wing  in  the  male  bird  are  black.  The  hen  is  much  lighter 
than  the  common  breed,  being  generally  of  a  cream  colour,  with 
a  dark  back.  It  appears  a  distinct  race ;  but  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  all  three  varieties  of  Pea-fowl  freely  intermix  with 
a  fertile  result,  and  so  closely  resemble  each  other  in  nearly 
all  their  characteristics  that  a  common  origin  is  not  at  all 
unlikely. 

Pea-fowl  are  of  a  very  wild  disposition,  and  generally  roost 
either  on  trees  or  on  the  very  top  ridge  of  a  roof,  to  which  they 
fly  with  ease.  The  hen  lays  in  the  greatest  seclusion,  and  must 
always  be  allowed  to  select  her  own  nest,  usually  deep  in  a 


184      TUEKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,   AND   WATER- FOWL. 

shrubbery.  She  lays  generally  from  five  to  nine  eggs,  but 
sometimes  considerably  more.  The  time  of  incubation  is  about 
twenty-eight  to  thirty  days.  One  cock  should  not  have  more 
than  three  or  four  hens. 

It  is  no  use  setting  Pea-fowl  eggs  under,  common  hens, 
which  forsake  their  chickens  in  about  two  months,  long  before 
the  young  Pea-chicks  can  endure  the  night  air.  The  Pea-hen 
goes  with  her  brood  at  least  six  months,  and  the  chicks  need 
this.  They  are  fed  and  cared  for  as  turkeys,  so  far  as  keeping 
them  from  rain  is  concerned ;  but  must  be  let  out  on  the  grass 
always  in  dry  weather,  or  they  will  not  thrive.  The  food  is 
also  similar  in  general ;  but  some  worms  or  other  insect  food 
should  be  provided  in  addition,  in  default  of  which  some  raw 
meat  cut  fine  is  the  best  substitute. 

Pea-fowl  are  tolerably  familiar,  and  if  regularly  well  fed 
will  get  very  tame,  and  tap  at  the  window  when  neglected. 
They  are,  however,  ill-natured,  and  frequently  beat  and  even 
kill  other  fowls,  sometimes  even  attacking  children.  From 
this  cause  they  are  ill  adapted  to  keep  in  a  general  poultry- 
yard,  apart  from  their  natural  impatience  of  restraint.  Young 
chickens  in  particular  the  cocks  will  often  kill,  arid  we  believe 
even  eat  afterwards.  Their  proper  place  is  on  the  lawn  or  in 
the  park,  where  the  splendid  hues  of  the  cocks  show  to  great 
advantage,  and  their  peculiar  shrill  scream  is  not  too  near  to 
be  disagreeable. 

They  cannot  be  considered,  of  course,  under  the  head  of 
profitable  poultry,  being  always  kept  for  ornament.  The  flesh 
of  a  year-old  bird  is,  however,  excellent,  and  carves  to  great 
advantage  on  the  table.  Of  the  adult  birds  we  have  nothing 
to  say,  never  having  known  any  person  who  had  attempted 
to  eat  one.  They  do  not  reach  maturity  until  three  years 
old. 


PHEASANTS.  185 

CHAPTER    XXIIL 

PHEASANTS. 

THESE  birds  scarcely  come  under  the  head  of  Poultry ;  but  as 
they  are  often  kept  on  account  of  their  great  beauty  by 
amateurs,  as  well  as  extensively  reared  for  the  gun,  some  notice 
of  them  will  not  be  out  of  place. 

Confined  near  a  house,  in  an  aviary  open  to  view,  Pheasants 
will  seldom  lay,  and  scarcely  ever  sit.  In  such  circumstances 
evergreen  or  other  shrubs  should  be  so  arranged  as  to  afford 
them  some  seclusion,  which  may  induce  them  to  breed  ;  but  it 
is  best  to  hatch  the  eggs  under  a  common  hen.  Some  hen 
Pheasants,  however,  will  lay  and  sit  very  well ;  such  are  usually 
those  which  have  been  hatched  and  reared  in  confinement,  and 
the  fact  proves  to  our  minds  that  with  care  and  perseverance 
these  birds  might  in  time  be  as  thoroughly  domesticated  as  the 
other  inmates  of  our  poultry -yards.  It  is  confirmatory  of  this, 
that  whilst  the  wild  hen  only  lays  a  dozen  or  fifteen  eggs,  in 
confinement,  the  eggs  being  taken  daily,  a  home-reared  bird 
will  often  lay  forty  or  fifty,  as  in  the  case  of  the  common  fowl. 

Pheasants  require  more  than  any  other  stock  the  most 
scrupulous  cleanliness,  with  very  abundant  green  food,  and 
rather  more  animal  substance  than  other  poultry,  otherwise 
the  general  treatment  is  very  similar.  The  cock,  who  must  be 
sit  least  two  years  old,  should  be  mated  with  three  or  four  hens 
not  under  twelve  months. 

One  wing  should  always  be  cut  or  stripped,  to  prevent  the 
birds  flying  up  and  injuring  themselves,  as  they  will  otherwise 
do.  This  is  the  more  necessary,  as  an  aviary  for  Pheasants 
should  never  be  covered,  the  adult  birds  doing  much  better 
in  an  open  run  well  gravelled  and  kept  clean. 

When  reared  as  an  amusement  on  such  a  limited  scale,  the 
chicks,  which  hatch  on  the  twenty-fourth  or  twenty-fifth  day, 


186       TURKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND   WATER-FOWL. 

should  be  put  out  and  treated  generally  mucli  like  chickens,  or 
rather  turkey-chicks,  giving  them  a  hoard  coop  made  tight  and 
sound,  and  only  letting  them  run  on  grass  when  quite  dry  and 
warm ;  always  giving  them  perfect  shelter  from  wet  and  cold 
winds,  but  at  the  same  time  plenty  of  fresh  air.  They  must, 
however,  have  more  animal  food  than  other  chickens ;  and  for 
the  first  few  days  it  is  best  to  feed  entirely  on  hard-boiled  egg 
chopped  fine,  ants'  eggs,  and  curd  pressed  through  a  cloth  till 
quite  dry,  with  now  and  then  a  little  stale  bread-crumb  soaked 
in  milk.  For  green  food,  leeks  or  onions  minced  small  are  best. 
After  a  week  their  staple  food  may  be  oatmeal  dough  mixed 
very  dry,  and  made  into  little  pills,  varied  with  chopped  egg 
and  bruised  hemp-seed,  and  occasionally  crushed  wheat,  animal 
food  being  also  given.  Ants'  eggs,  as  is  well  known,  are  the 
very  best  animal  diet  for  young  Pheasants,  and  almost  necessary 
to  any  great  success  in  rearing,  though  much  may  be  done 
without  by  care  and  attention. 

The  chicks  must  be  fed  for  some  time  nearly  every  hour ; 
and  their  water,  which  should  always  be  drawn  from  a  spring, 
must  be  renewed  several  times  a  day.  This  is  the  only  way  of 
avoiding  the  dreaded  "gapes,"  which  is  tenfold  more  fatal  to 
young  Pheasants  than  to  any  other  fowls;  but  which  may  be  kept 
off  by  keeping  the  water  always  clear,  and  never  letting  them 
out,  while  young,  on  wet  grass.  Adult  birds,  however,  are  very 
hardy ;  and  do  not,  if  the  soil  be  tolerably  light  and  dry,  require 
shelter  from  any  ordinary  weather,  beyond  what  a  few  shrubs, 
or  even  dry  brambles,  thrown  in  their  pen,  will  afford  them. 

Feeding-boxes,  so  commonly  used,  we  consider  bad.  Keep 
the  ground  clean,  and  scatter  the  food  broadcast.  There  is  no 
better  than  buckwheat  and  bai-ley  for  old  birds,  with  green 
food  regularly,  and  a  little  animal  food  now  and  then,  like  other 
fowls. 

For  rearing  on  a  large  scale,  Mr.  Baily,  who  has  had  great 
experience,  recommends  laying  pens  twelve  feet  square,  to  be 


PHEASANTS.  187 

erected  on  light  dry  grass  land,  if  possible  on  the  side  of  a  hill 
facing  west  or  south.  These  pens  should  be  made  of  tem- 
porary hurdles  or  fencing,  six  or  seven  feet  high,  constructed  of 
laths  nailed  an  inch  apart,  and  touching  the  ground  every- 
where at  bottom,  so  as  to  keep  out  vermin.  The  advantages  of 
such  a  plan  are,  first,  cheapness,  and  secondly,  convenience  ;  as 
the  hurdles  can  be  taken  down  when  the  breeding  season  is 
over,  and  packed  away  in  a  very  small  compass.  It  is  also 
advisable  to  erect  them  every  year  on  fresh  ground,  which 
such  a  rough  construction  eminently  facilitates. 

Every  such  pen  is  adapted  for  a  cock  and  three  or  four 
hens,  whose  wings  must  be  cut  to  prevent  their  flying  over. 
For  a  nest  a  slight  hollow  should  be  scooped  in  the  ground  in 
the  centre,  and  filled  with  sand,  at  each  end  of  which,  and  six 
feet  apart,  a  short  stake  thirty  inches  high  should  be  driven,  on 
the  tops  of  which  is  nailed  a  horizontal  pole.  Against  this  pole 
rough  twig  fagots  are  inclined  from  each  side,  forming  a  rough 
kind  of  shelter,  which  the  pheasant  prefers  to  any  regular 
receptacle. 

The  eggs  should  be  collected  every  everting ;  and  if  this 
be  regularly  done,  every  hen  in  the  breeding-pen  will 
usually  lay  at  least  twenty-five;  the  'laying  faculty,  as  we 
have  already  remarked,  being  increased  by  domestication. 
They  are  best  set  under  Game  hens,  but  the  hen  Pheasant 
may  also  be  allowed  a  share,  which  she  will  hatch  well,  but 
is  not  quite  so  manageable  with  her  chicks  as  the  common 
hen. 

The  early  treatment  will  be  as  already  described,  but  when 
a  few  days — say  a  week — old,  the  board  coops  are  placed  in 
regular  rows  out  on  a  grass-field,  which  should  be  given  up  to 
the  purpose.  A  space  round  every  coop  should  be  mown  close, 
but  the  rest  left  standing  to  afford  the  poults  shelter  from  the 
heat,  which  they  are  unable  to  bear,  suffering  from  it  almost 
more  than  from  cold.  The  chicks  should  be  shut  in  at  night, 


188      TURKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND   WATER  FOWL. 

but  let  out  strictly  at  daybreak  every  morning,  as  they  are 
early  risers. 

Feeding  will  be  as  before  mentioned,  taking,  of  course,  equal 
pains  to  keep  the  water  rigidly  clear.  Many  large  breeders 
hang  up  pieces  of  meat  to  putrefy,  in  order  to  procure  the 
peculiar  white  worms,  called  "  gentles,"  which  are  collected  in 
a  tin  or  zinc  pan  placed  underneath  \  but  such  should  be 
sparingly  used,  as  the  young  poults  often  refuse  plain  food  after. 
Ants'  eggs  are  much  better. 

"When  the  breedirg  season  is  over,  the  old  birds,  and  the 
young  also  when  well  grown,  are  most,  conveniently  kept  fifty 
or  sixty  together,  in  pens  fifty  feet  square;  being  suffered  to- 
remain  there  until  wanted,  or  till  the  breeding-pens  are  made 
up  for  next  year. 

On  this  system,  with  good  management,  eighty  per  cent,  of 
the  eggs  laid  may  be  brought  to  the  gun,  and  the  natural 
produce  thus  more  than  doubled. 

Of  the  different  varieties,  the  Common  Pheasant  is  most 
delicate,  and  is  rather  wild,  The  plumage  is  too  well  known 
to  need  any  description,  especially  as  the  breed  is  not  so  well 
adapted  for  the  mere  amateur  as  the  beautiful  Chinese  or  ring- 
necked  breeds,  which  are  daily  becoming  more  common,  and 
are  hardier  and  easier  to  rear. 

The  Golden  Pheasant  cock  is  also  a  magnificent  bird.  The 
head  bears  a  crest  of  beautiful  amber-coloured  feathers.  The 
back  of  the  head  and  neck  is  of  n  beautiful  orange  red,  passing 
low  down  the  breast  into  a  deep  scarlet,  which  is  the  colour  of 
all  the  under  parts.  The  neck  feathers  are  arranged  like  plate- 
armour,  and  are  often  erected  by  the  bird.  The  back  is  a  deep 
gold  colour,  the  tail  covert  feathers  being  laced  with  crimson : 
tail-feathers  brown  mottled  with  black.  The  hen  is  of  a  more 
sober  tint,  being  of  a  general  brown  colour  with  dark 
markings. 

This  variety  is  very  wild  and  easily  startled,  but  is,  never- 


PHEASANTS.  189 

theless,  more  easily  reared  than  the  common  pheasant,  and 
would  probably  become  more  domesticated  with  perseverance 
in  breeding  under  &  hen.  The  hen  pheasant  herself  is  so  shy 
that  she  scarcely  ever  hatches,  unless  in  an  unusually  sheltered 
place,  with  shrubs  and  bushes  arranged  to  resemble  nature  as 
much  as  possible. 

The  Silver  Pheasant  is  most  easily  tamed  of  all  the  varieties, 
and  is  also  the  hardiest;  whilst,  in  our  opinion,  it  equals  any  iii 
beauty.  The  cock  bird  of  this  breed  has  a  blue  crest,  and  all 
the  upper  part  of  the  body  is  a  silvery  white,  most  exquisitely 
pencilled  with  fine  black  lines  arranged  with  the  most  mathe- 
matical precision.  Breast  and  under  parts  usually  quite  black, 
but  sometimes  a  little  mottled.  The  hen  is  brown,  but  re- 
markably neat  and  pretty. 

This  bird,  if  home-reared,  may  have  its  liberty  in  the 
poultry-yard,  feeding  with  the  other  fowls;  and  has  often  been 
known  to  lay  forty  or  fifty  eggs.  There  appears,  therefore, 
every  reason  to  believe  that  with  perseverance  it  might  be 
rendered  quite  a  domestic,  and  even  profitable  variety. 

HYBRIDS  between  the  Common  Pheasant  and  other  birds 
are  not  unfrequent  They  have  been  known  to  breed  with  the 
Black  Cock,  Turkey,  Guinea-fowl,  and  common  domestic  hen ; 
the  latter  cross  being  not  at  all  uncommon,  as  every  gamekeeper 
knows.  Such  hybrids  are,  however,  invariably  sterile  amongst 
themselves,  and  a  very  high  authority*  has  declared  them  also 
totally  unproductive  when  mated  even  with  the  parent ;  but 
there  is  undoubted  evidencef  of  at  least  two  birds  having  been 
reared  as  the  produce  of  such  a  cross,  mated  again  with  the 
cock  pheasant.  The  subject  is  only  interesting  from  the  sin- 
gular fact,  that  although  a  cock  pheasant  is  a  much  smaller 
bird  than  the  domestic  fowl,  the  cross  produced  is  almost 
invariably  very  much  larger  in  size  than  the  mother,  probably 

•  31  r.  W.  B.  Tegetmeier. 

t  See  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society,  1836. 


190      TURKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND   WATER-FOWL. 

in  consequence  of  the  strong  "wild  blood"  introduced;  and 
hence  some  may  think  the  experiment  worth  repeating.  It  is 
certainly  true  that  by  long  perseverance  great  difficulties  of 
this  kind  have  been  overcome,  and  hybrids,  formerly  considered 
barren,  have  been  found  at  least  partially  fertile ;  but  in  this 
case  interbreeding  has  been  so  often  tried  that  we  cannot 
consider  the  field  very  promising.  One  great  obstacle  is  the 
extreme  and  apparently  untamable  wildness  of  the  primary 
hybrid  from  which  it  is  wished  to  breed  ;  and  the  only  chance 
of  success  would  appear  to  be  rearing  such  singly,  in  company 
with  his  or  her  intended  mate. 

"We  have  only  one  farther  remark  to  make.  Pheasants 
should  never  be  caught  with  the  hand,  as  their  bones  are 
fractured  with  the  greatest  ease.  An  implement  should  be 
kept  for  the  purpose,  resembling  a  large  butterfly  net,  but  with 
the  bag  of  open  netting  instead  of  gauze.  In  this  way  they 
may  be  caught  when  needed  with  the  utmost  facility;  but  they 
should  never  be  meddled  with  more  than  absolutely  necessary. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

WATER-FOWL. 

THE  above  general  heading,  under  which  -\v&  shall  shortly  treat 
of  Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans,  should  be  borne  in  mind  before 
such  stock  is  added  to  the  poultry-yard.  They  are  strictly  water 
birds;  and  although  ducks  may  be  often  seen  in  courts  and 
alleys  where  the  nearest  approach  to  a  pond  which  they  have 
ever  known  is  some  filthy  mud-puddle,  to  keep  animals  whose 
proper  habitat  is  so  well  marked  in  such  unnatural  circumstances 
must  revolt  every  truly  humane  mind,  and  cannot  in  the  long 
run  repay  any  one  who  attempts  it. 

DUCKS. — In  the  case  of  these  birds  alone  may  some  little 


l-~  - 

'- . 


AYLESBURY  DUCKS.  191 

exception  be  made  to  the  above  remark,  as  they  will  do  well  in 
a  garden  or  any  other  tolerably  wide  range  where  they  can 
procure  plenty  of  slugs  and  worms,  with  a  pond  or  cistern  only 
a  few  feet  across.  Kept  in  this  manner,  they  will  not  only  be 
found  profitable,  but  very  serviceable ;  keeping  the  place  almost 
free  of  those  slugs  which  are  the  gardener's  great  plague,  and 
doing  but  little  damage,  except  to  strawberries,  for  which  they 
have  a  peculiar  partiality,  and  which  must  be  carefully  protected 
from  their  ravages.  Other  fruit  is  too  high  to  be  in  much 
danger. 

In  such  circumstances  there  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that 
ducks  are  profitable  poultry;  and  where  numerous  fowls  are 
kept,  a  few  should  also  be  added,  as  they  will  keep  themselves, 
very  nearly,  on  what  the  hens  refuse  ;  but  where  every  atom  of 
the  food  they  consume  has  to  be  paid  for  in  cash,  our  own 
opinion  is  that  ducks  do  not  pay  to  rear  except  for  town 
markets,  their  appetites  are  so  everlasting  and  voracious.  This 
point,  however,  we  must  leave  to  the  experience  of  the  reader, 
and  proceed  to  consider  the  two  principal  varieties — known  as 
the  Aylesbury  and  Rouen.  The  following  descriptions  and 
accompanying  remarks  are  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  John  K. 
Fowler,  of  Aylesbury,  one  of  the  largest  poultry-breeders,  and 
certainly  the  most  successful  exhibitor  of  ducks,  in  England : — 

"  My  idea  of  a  perfect  Aylesbury  drake  and  duck  is,  that  in 
plumage  they  should  be  of  the  purest  snow  white  all  over.  The 
head  should  be  full,  and  the  bill  well  set  on  to  the  skull,  so  that 
the  beak  should  seem  to  be  almost  in  a  line  from  the  top  of  the- 
head  to  the  tip.  The  bill  should  be  long,  and  when  viewed  in 
front  appear  much  like  a  woodcock's :  it  should  be  in  prize 
birds  of  a  delicate  flesh  colour,  without  spot  or  blemish,  and 
with  a  slight  fleshy  excrescence  where  the  feathers  commence. 
If  it  occasionally  has  a  very  slight  creamy  tint  it  would  nob 
disqualify,  but  any  approach  to  dark  buff  or  yellow  is  fatal  to 
the  pen.  Eye  full,  bright,  and  quite  black. 


192        TURKEYS,  ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,  AND  WATER-FOWL. 

"The  legs  should  be  strong,  with  the  claws  well  webbed, 
and  in  colour  of  a  rich  dark  yellow  or  orange.  Body  rather 
long,  but  broad  across  the  shoulders,  and  the  neck  rather  long 
and  slender.  The  drake  should  have  one  and  sometimes  has 
two  sharp  curls  in  his  tail. 

"  The  weight  of  each  bird  in  a  show  pen  ought  to  be  about 
nine  pounds,  but  this  is  not  very  often  attained. 

"  Immense  numbers  of  ducks  are  bred  around  Aylesbury. 
It  is  not  at  all  unusual  to  see  around  one  small  cottage  2,000 
ducklings,  and  it  has  been  computed  that  upwards  of  £20,000 
per  annum  is  returned  to  the  town  and  neighbourhood  in 
exchange,  whilst  the  railway  not  uncommonly  carries  a  ton 
weight  of  the  birds  up  to  the  London  market  in  a  single  night. 

"  The  Aylesbury  Duck  often  begins  to  lay  before  Christmas. 
Sitting  hens  are  then  procured ;  and  immediately  after  hatching 
the  ducklings  are  taken  away  from  the  hens  and  put,  fifty  or  a 
hundred  together,  in  a  close  warm  place,  with  one  hen  tied  by 
the  leg  to  teach  them  to  peck  and  also  to  huckle  them.  They 
should  be  given  stimulating  food ;  that  is,  meal  well  mixed 
with  boiled  meat  and  greaves  :  they  are  thus  made  fat  in  six  or 
seven  weeks,  and  if  sent  to  market  in  March  or  April  realise 
from  12s.  to  18s.  per  couple. 

"  With  regard  to  my  own  breeding  stock,  the  selection  gives 
me  no  trouble.  All  the  large  breeders  know  that  I  will  give 
a  guinea  at  any  timefor  a  very  fine  and  well-developed  bird, 
and  I  thus  keep  my  strain  large,  and  am  constantly  infusing 
new  blood. 

"  Many  persons  cannot  imagine  how  the  specimens  of  the 
breed  reared  liere  acquire  such  faultless  flesh-coloured  bills. 
The  cause  is  local,  as  might  be  supposed.  The  beautiful  prize 
tint  is  obtained  by  giving  the  ducks  in  their  troughs  of  water  a 
peculiar  kind  of  white  gravel  found  only  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Aylesbury,  in  appearance  resembling  pummice-stone.  In  this 
gravel  they  constantly  shovel  their  bills,  and  this  keeps  them 


ROUEN   DUCKS.  193 

white.  Also,  birds  intended  for  exhibition  are  seldom  allowed 
out  in  the  sun,  as  it  tans  the  bills  sadly. 

"  In  selecting  breeding  stock,  drakes  should  be  chosen  with 
very  long  bills,  like  a  woodcock's,  and  ducks  with  broad  backs 
and  large  solid  bodies." 

For  the  gravel  mentioned  by  Mr.  Fowler,  it  is  difficult  to 
find  a  perfect  substitute.  Any  other  kind  of  clean  white  gravel 
may  however  be  tried,  and  it  may  be  well  worth  while  for  in- 
tending prize-takers  to  transport  a  quantity  to  their  yards.  It 
is  also  very  beneficial  to  the  paleness  of  the  bills  to  let  the 
ducks  out  on  the  wet  grass  in  the  very  early  morning,  before 
the  sun  is  up.  Besides  the  tanning  influence  of  the  sun,  it  ia 
well  known  that  ferruginous  soil  has  a  peculiar  specific  effect 
on  the  bill,  often  turning  it  yellow  in  a  single  week.  A  bill 
thus  stained  can  never  be  paled  again ;  and  Aylesbury  Ducks 
should  therefore  never  be  let  out  on  laud  containing  iron  ore. 

"  Rouen  Ducks,"  Mr.  Fowler  states,  "  are  reared  much  the 
same  as  Aylesbury,  but  are  not  nearly  so  forward,  rarely  laying 
till  February  or  March.  They  are  very  handsome,  and  will 
weigh  eight  or  nine  pounds  each ;  and,  as  a  rude,  do  much 
better  in  most  parts  of  England  than  the  Aylesburys.  Their 
flesh  is  excellent,  and  at  Michaelmas  is,  I  think,  superior  to 
the  other. 

"  The  best  general  description  of  the  Rouens  in  plumage  is 
to  be  precisely  like  the  wild  mallard,  but  larger.  The  drake 
should  have  a  commanding  appearance,  with  a  rich  green  and 
purple  head,  and  a  fine  long  bill,  formed  and  set  on  the  head  as 
I  have  described  for  the  Aylesburys.  The  bill  should  look  clean, 
of  a  yellow  ground,  with  a  very  pale  wash  of  green  over  it,  and 
the  '  bean'  at  the  end  of  it  jet  black.  His  neck  should  have  a 
sharp,  clearly-marked  white  ring  round  it,  not  quite  meeting 
at  the  back.  Breast  a  deep  rich  claret-brown  to  well  below 
the  water-line,  then  passing  into  the  under  body-colour,  which 
is  a  beautiful  French  grey,  shading  into  white  near  the  tail 


194        TUKKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND   WATERFOWL. 

The  back  ought  to  be  a  rich  greenish  black  quite  up  to  the  tail 
feathers,  the  curls  in  which  are  a  rich  dark  green.  Wings  a 
greyish  brown,  with  distinct  purple  and  white  ribbon-mark 
well  developed.  The  flight-feathers  must  be  grey  and  brown — 
any  approach  to  white  in  them  is  a  fatal  disqualification,  not  to 
be  compensated  by  any  other  beauty  or  merit.  Legs  a  rich 
orange.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  beauty  of  a  drake  possessing 
the  above  colours  in  perfection. 

"The  bill  of  the  duck  should  not  be  so  long  as  in  the 
drake,  and  orange  brown  as  a  ground  colour,  shading  off  at  the 
edges  to  yellow,  and  on  the  top  a  distinct  splash  or  mark  of 
a  dark  colour  approaching  black,  two-thirds  down  from  the 
top  j  it  should  there  be  rounded  off,  and  on  no  account  reach 
the  sides.  I  may  also  remark  that  any  approach  to  slate 
colour  in  the  bills  of  either  sex  would  be  a  fatal  blemish.  The 
head  of  the  duck  is  dark  brown,  with  two  distinct  light  brown 
lines  running  along  each  side  of  the  face,  and  shading  away  to 
the  upper  part  of  the  neck.  Breast  a  pale  brown,  delicately 
pencilled  with  dark  brown ;  the  back  is  exquisitely  pencilled 
with  black  upon  a  moderately  dark  brown  ground.  The 
shoulder  of  the  wing  is  also  beautifully  pencilled  with  black 
and  grey;  flight-feathers  dark  grey,  any  approach  to  white 
being  instant  disqualification ;  and  ribbon-mark  as  in  the  drake. 
Belly,  up  to  the  tail,  light  brown,  with  every  feather  delicately 
pencilled  to  the  tip.  Legs  orange,  often,  however,  with  a  brown 
tinge.  The  duck  sometimes  shows  an  approach  to  a  white 
ring  round  the  neck,  as  in  the  drake  j  such  a  good  judge  would 
instantly  disqualify." 

To  the  foregoing,  by  far  the  best  description  of  these  two 
varieties  ever  published,  we  can  add  nothing.  We  will  only 
remark  that  when  intended  for  fattening,  ducks  should  have 
only  a  trough  of  water  instead  of  their  usual  pond,  and  should 
then  be  fed  on  barley  meal.  Celery  will  add  a  delicious 
flavour.  In  ordinary  rearing  the  ducklings  should  be  left  with 


MUSCOVY  AND  OTHER  DUCKS.  195 

the  hen,  or  mother-duck,  and  kept  from  the  water  entirely  for 
a  week  or  ten  days ;  then  only  allowed  to  swim  for  half  an  hour 
at  a  time,  till  the  feathers  begin  to  grow,  else  they  will  be 
liable  to  die  of  cramp.  They  will  soon  be  totally  independent 
of  their  mother,  and  may  then  be  left  entirely  to  themselves ; 
only  taking  precautions  against  rats,  to  which  ducklings  fall 
victims  far  oftener  than  any  other  poultry. 

The  Muscovy ',  or  Musk  Duck,  appears  to  be  a  totally  distinct 
breed,  the  cross  between  it  and  other  ducks  being,  at  least 
usually,  unfertile.  The  drake  is  very  large,  often  weighing 
ten  pounds,  and  looking  far  more  on  account  of  the  loose 
feathering ;  but  the  female  is  less  than  the  Aylesbury,  not 
exceeding  about  six  pounds.  The  plumage  of  this  variety 
varies  greatly  from  all  white  to  a  deep  blue-black,  but  usually 
contains  both.  The  face  is  naked,  and  the  base  of  the  bill  is 
greatly  carunculated.  The  drake  is  very  quarrelsome,  and  we 
well  remember  the  injuries  inflicted  by  an  old  villain  of  this 
breed  belonging  to  a  relative,  upon  a  fine  Dorking  cock  in  the 
same  yard.  When  excited,  the  bird  alternately  depresses  and 
raises  its  head,  uttering  most  harsh  and  guttural  sounds,  and 
with  the  red  skin  round  the  face  presenting  an  appearance 
which  has  been  justly  described  as  "  infernal." 

The  flesh  of  the  Musk  Duck  is  very  good  eating ;  but  it  i* 
far  inferior  as  a  layer  to  either  the  Rouen  or  the  Aylesbury, 
and  cannot  be  considered  a  very  useful  variety. 

Call  Ducks  are  principally  kept  as  ornamental  fowl.  The 
voice  of  the  drake  is  peculiar,  resembling  a  low  whistle.  They 
vary  in  colour,  one  variety  precisely  resembling  the  Aylesbury 
in  plumage,  but  with  a  yellow  bill,  and  the  other  the  Rouen; 
but  in  both  cases  bearing  the  same  relation  to  them  as  Game 
Bantams  do  to  the  Game  Fowl  The  flesh  is  good ;  but  there 
is  too  little  to  repay  breeding  them  for  the  table,  and  their 
only  proper  place  is  on  the  lake. 

The  East  Indian,  or  Buenos  Ayres  Black  Duck,  is  a  most 

N  2 


196       TURKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND    WATERFOWL. 

beautiful  bird.  The  plumage  is  black,  with  a  rich  green  lustre,, 
and  any  white,  grey,  or  brown  feathers  are  fatal.  They  should 
be  bred  for  exhibition  as  small  as  possible,  never  exceeding  five 
and  four  pounds.  As  they  usually  pair,  equal  numbers  should 
be  kept  of  both  sexes.  The  flesh  of  this  duck  is  more  delicious 
than  that  of  any  other  variety,  in  our  estimation. 

The  Cayuga,  or  Large  Black  Duck,  of  America,  is  a  breed 
well  worth  naturalising  in  this  country,  'being  hardy  and  a 
good  layer.  The  plumage  is  black,  approaching  brown,  with  a 
white  collar  or  neck,  which  with  careful  breeding  might  be 
soon  made  into  a  neat  well-defined  ring.  Weight  from  six  to 
eight  pounds  each,  being  thus  inferior  to  the  Aylesbury  and 
Rouen,  but  with  better  flavour,  and  greater  aptitude  to  fatten. 

The  Common  Duck  needs  no  description.  We  believe  it 
to  be  the  Rouen  more  or  less  degenerated,  or  rather,  perhaps, 
not  bred  up  to  the  perfection  of  that  breed. 

It  should  be  remembered  in  keeping  ducks  that  the 
wild  birds  are  monogamous,  and  not  more  than  two  or  three 
given  to  one  drake,  if  eggs  are  wanted  for  sitting.  The  duck 
usually  sits  well,  and  always  covers  her  eggs  with  loose  straw 
when  leaving  them,  a  supply  of  which  should  therefore  be  left 
by  her.  The  usual  number  laid  is  fifty  or  sixty ;  but  ducks 
have  laid  as  many  as  two  hundred  and  fifty  in  one  year ;  and 
we  believe  with  care  this  faculty  might  be  greatly  developed, 
and  their  value  much  increased  as  producers  of  eggs.  At 
present  they  are  mostly  kept  for  table. 

The  Aylesbury  Duck  is  usually  heaviest,  and  is  considered 
the  best  layer  by  many ;  but  on  the  wjjole  the  Rouen  is  to  be 
preferred.  At  Birmingham,  however,  last  Christmas  (1866) 
the  Rouen  exceeded  the  Aylesbury  in  weight,  both  being 
shown  in  the  greatest  perfection. 

Ducks  should  have  a  separate  house,  with  a  brick  or  stone 
floor,  as  it  requires  to  be  frequently  washed  down.  Clean  straw 
ehould  be  given  them  at  least  every  alternate  night.  Other 


GEESE.  197 

attention  they  need  none,  beyond  the  precaution  of  keeping 
them  in  until  they  have  laid  every  morning.  This  is  necessary, 
as  the  Duck  is  very  careless  about  laying,  and  if  left  at  liberty 
will  often  drop  her  eggs  in  the  water  whilst  swimming. 

Our  illustration  is  drawn  from  the  Birmingham  prize  birds 
of  last  year. 

GEESE. — "  Of  the  two  principal  breeds  of  geese,"  Mr. 
Fowler  writes,  "  I  very  much  prefer  the  Grey  or  Toulouse  to 
the  White  or  Embden,  being  larger  and  handsomer.  I  have 
had  a  Toulouse  gander  which  weighed  thirty-four  pounds,  a 
weight  never,  I  am  sure,  attained  by  the  White  breed.  They 
are  also  better  shaped,  as  a  rule,  and  every  way  the  more 
profitable  variety.  The  forehead  should  be  flat,  and  the  bill  a 
clear  orange  red.  The  plumage  is  a  rich  brown,  passing  into 
white  on  the  under  parts  and  tail  coverts. 

"  The  Embden  Goose  is  pure  white  in  every  feather,  ar.d 
the  eye  should  show  a  peculiar  blue  colour  in  the  iris  in  all 
well-bred  birds." 

We  should  recommend  for  market  to  cross  the  Toulouse 
Goose  with  the  White,  by  which  greater  weight  is  gained  than 
in  either  variety  pure-bred ;  but  much  will  depend  upon 
circumstances.  White  or  cross-bred  geese  require  a  pond,  but 
the  Toulouse,  with  a  good  grass  run,  will  do  well  with  only  a 
trough  of  water,  and  will  require  no  extra  feeding,  except  for 
fattening  or  exhibition. 

The  only  foreign  varieties  requiring  mention  are  the  Chinese 
and  the  Canada  geese,  both  of  which  appear  to  be  really  mid- 
way between  the  geese  proper  and  the  swans,  which  they 
resemble  in  length  of  neck. 

The  Chinese  Goose  is  of  a  general  brown  colour,  passing 
into  light  grey  or  white  on  the  breast,  with  a  dark  brown 
stripe  down  the  back  of  the  neck.  They  have  much  of  the 
beauty  of  the  swan,  which  they  also  resemble  in  having  a  dark 
protuberance  round  the  ba«e  of  the  upper  mandible.  The  voice 


198       TURKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND   WATERFOWL. 

is  very  harsh  and  peculiar.  This  breed  is  not  a  good  grazer, 
and  is  best  reared  in  the  farm-yard. 

The  Canada  Goose  also  is  not  a  good  grazer,  and  does  best 
near  marshy  ponds,  in  which  circumstances  they  will  thrive 
and  be  found  profitable. 

"With  regard  to  the  general  management  of  geese  little  need 
be  said.  More  than  four  or  five  should  not  be  allowed  to  one 
gander,  and  such  a  family  will  require  a  house  about  eight  feet 
square ;  but  to  secure  fine  stock  three  geese  are  better  to  one 
male.  Each  nest  must  be  about  two  feet  six  inches  square, 
and,  as  the  goose  will  always  lay  where  she  has  deposited  her 
first  egg,  there  must  be  a  nest  for  each  bird.  If  they  each  lay 
in  a  separate  nest  the  eggs  may  be  left ;  otherwise,  they  should 
be  removed  daily. 

Geese  should  be  set  in  March  or  early  April,  as  it  is  very 
difficult  to  rear  the  young  in  hot  weather.  The  time  is  thirty 
to  thirty-four  days.  The  goose  sits  very  steadily,  but  should 
be  induced  to  come  off  daily  and  take  a  bath.  Besides  this  she 
should  have  in  reach  a  good  supply  of  food  and  water,  or 
hunger  will  compel  her,  one  by  one,-  to  eat  all  her  eggs.  The 
gander  is  usually  kept  away ;  but  this  is  not  very  needful,  as  he 
not  only  has  no  enmity  to  the  eggs  or  goslings,  but  takes  very 
great  interest  in  the  hatching,  often  sitting  by  his  mate  for 
hours. 

The  goslings  should  be  allowed  to  hatch  out  entirely  by 
themselves.  When  put  out,  they  should  have  a  fresh  turf 
daily  for  a  few  days,  and  be  fed  on  boiled  oatmeal  and  rice, 
with  water  from  a  pond,  in  a  very  shallow  dish,  as  they  should 
not  be  allowed  to  swim  for  a  fortnight,  for  which  time  the 
goose  is  better  kept  under  a  very  large  crate.  After  two  weeks 
they  will  be  able  to  shift  for  themselves,  only  requiring  to  be 
protected  from  veiy  heavy  rain  till  fledged,  and  to  have  one  or 
two  feeds  of  grain  daily,  in  addition  to  what  they  pick  up. 

For   fattening    they    should    be   penned   up   half-a-dozen, 


SWANS.  199 

together  in  a  dark  shed  and  fed  on  barley  meal,  being  let  out 
several  hours  for  a  last  bath  before  being  killed,  in  order  to 
clean  their  feathers. 

"  For  exhibition,"  Mr.  Fowler  says,  "  all  geese  should  be 
shut  up  in  the  dark,  and  fed  liberally  upon  whole  barley  or 
oats  thrown  into  water.  It  is  essential  to  great  weight  to 
keep  them  very  quiet,  letting  them  out  in  the  water,  however, 
for  half  an  hour  every  day." 

SWANS, — There  are  six  or  seven  varieties  of  swans  known 
to  naturalists,  but  only  three  are  at  present,  or  likely  to 
be,  domesticated  in  this  country — viz.,  the  large  English 
White  or  Mute  Swan ;  the  Australian  or  Black  Swan,  and  the 
Chili  or  Peruvian  Swan.  The  plumage  of  the  two  first  needs 
no  description;  but  that  of  the  Chilian  Swan  differs  from 
either  in  being  white  on  the  body,  with  a  black  head  and  neck, 
making  rather  a  pleasing  contrast  of  colour.  In  size  the  White 
Swan  is  largest  of  all.  All  three  varieties  are  long-lived,  and 
particular  birds  are  reported  to  have  reached  the  age  of  one 
hundred  years. 

The  following  remarks  on  swans  are  by  Trevor  Dickens, 
Esq.,  of  London,  who  is  well  acquainted  with  these  beautiful 
birds  : — 

"  Besides  ornament,  swans  are  often  of  considerable  use  in 
clearing  lakes  or  canals  from  weeds  generally,  and  in  particular 
from  the  one  peculiar  plant  which  within  late  years  has  become 
an  only  too  well-known  nuisance.  To  this  there  is,  however,  a 
drawback,  as  they  also  destroy  the  young  fry  of  fish. 

"  The  large  English  White  Swan  is  most  beautiful  in  form, 
as  well  as  in  colour.  The  Black  Swan  is  also  apt  to  be  bad- 
tempered,  and  is  more  mischievous  on  the  water ;  for  all  which 
reasons  the  first  place  must  still  be  given  to  the  magnificent 
old  English  breed.  It  sometimes  occurs  wild,  but  in  such 
circumstances  is  always  of  a  rather  grey  colour  instead  of  pure 
white.  The  finest,  swans  in  England  are  to  be  seen  in  the 


200       TUKKEYS,    ORNAMENTAL   POULTRY,    AND   WATERFOWL. 

Thames  and  Trent  rivers,  and  at  Abbotsbury  in  Dorsetshire. 
The  Marquis  of  Exeter,  at  Burghley  Park,  the  Marquis  of 
Abercorn,  and  in  Scotland  the  Earl  of  Wemyss,  are  also  well 
known  for  their  beautiful  swans. 

"  The  female  swan  lays  in  February,  every  other  day  until 
seven  to  nine  eggs  are  laid,  and  then  sits  for  forty-two  days.* 
More  than  five  cygnets,  however,  are  seldom  hatched.  The  nest 
is  made  somewhere  amongst  the  flags  and  weeds  at  the  water's 
edge,  and  it  is  dangerous  to  approach  either  the  male  or  female 
during  incubation,  as  they  are  very  irascible,  and  a  blow  from 
their  strong  pinions  will  even  break  a  man's  arm. 

"  The  cygnets  are  best  fed  by  throwing  meal  upon  the 
water.  The  old  birds,  if  they  have  a  large  water  range,  will 
only  need  feeding  in  severe  winter,  when  they  should  have 
grain.  They  also  like  grass  thrown  to  them,  and  bread,  which 
they  will  frequently  eat  from  the  hand. 

"  It  is  usually  asserted  that  the  swan  is  strictly  monogamous. 
But  I  have  frequently  seen  two  females  with  the  male  during 
the  breeding  season,  and  believe  the  idea  to  have  arisen  from 
the  stronger  female  always  seeking  to  drive  the  weaker  away 
before  breeding.  Full-grown  males  never  agree  at  all,  and 
must,  therefore,  be  kept  separate." 

It  is  impossible,  to  add  anything  on  the  general  manage- 
ment of  swans,  as  the  young  birds  must  be  left  to  shift  for 
themselves,  the  parents  being  too  jealous  and  powerful  to 
submit  to  restraint.  But  for  this,  they  might  perhaps  be 
more  widely  kept,  as  the  young  cygnets  are  excellent  for  the 
table,  and  very  easily  reared. 

*  Bechstein,  a  most  accurate  observer,  and  many  others,  contradict 
this,  and  state  that  the  swan  sits  for  only  thirty-five  days. 


SECTION   V. 


THE  HATCHING  AND  REARING  OF  CHICKENS 
ARTIFICIALLY. 


SECTION   V. 


THE  artificial  hatching  and  rearing  of  chickens  is  a  matter 
of  considerable  interest  to  all  who  breed  poultry  for  exhi- 
bition. All  such  know  well  how  important  it  is  to  obtain 
early  broods,  and  how  difficult  it  is  to  obtain  hens  to  hatch 
them,  even  by  the  regular  offer  of  six  or  seven  shillings 
for  the  loan  of  a  single  bird.  Yet  artificial  hatching  has 
hitherto  made  little  progress;  and,  to  say  the  truth, 
most  even  of  those  who  attempt  it.  eventually  give  it  up 
in  disgust. 

We  believe  this  result  to  be  greatly  owing  to  the 
general  want  of  sound  knowledge  on  the  subject.  We 
have  never  met  with  any  treatise. that  really  and  practically 
dealt  with  the  difficulties  that  have  to  be  overcome,  or 
fairly  stated  the  precautions  necessary  to  be  observed. 
And  this  defect  we  have  endeavoured  in  some  sort  to 
supply ;  making  it  our  business  not  to  puff  the  apparatus 
of  any  particular  inventor,  but  to  give  rules  which  all  must 
adopt  who  would  attain  success. 

That  incubators  will  ever  hatch  as  many  eggs  as  hens, 
we  do  not  believe.  But  that  a  fair* measure  of  success 
may  be  obtained  both  in  hatching  and  rearing  artificially, 
we  know  ;  and  the  means  to  this  end  we  have  set  forth  in 
the  following  pages. 


THE  HATCHING  AND  REARING  OF  CHICKENS 
AETIFICIALLY. 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

THE   INCUBATOR   AND    ITS   MANAGEMENT. 

THE  artificial  hatching  of  chickens,  as  is  well  known,  has  been 
practised  as  quite  an  ordinary  thing  in  Egypt  for  thousands  of 
years,  and  with  the  most  complete  success  ;  yet,  strange  to  say, 
is  only  a  very  modern  experiment  in  Europe,  and,  on  the 
whole,  by  no  means  a  satisfactory  one. 

To  give  a  history  of  all,  or  even  of  the  principal  attempts 
that  have  been  made  to  hatch  chickens  by  heat  artificially 
applied,  would  far  exceed  our  limits,  and  would  be  of  no 
practical  use.  It  will  be  enough  to  say  that  Reaumur  was  the 
first  who  really  took  the  matter  up  in  earnest,  and  he  suc- 
ceeded also  about  as  well  as  those  who  have  come  after  him. 
His  method  was  to  place  the  eggs  in  wooden  casks,  or  other 
vessels,  and  then  to  surround  the  whole  with  fresh  dung  in  a 
state  of  fermentation,  which  was  renewed  as  often  as  necessary. 
For  obvious  reasons  this  system  is  never  likely  to  be  popular  ; 
but  it  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Geyelin  as  still  employed  with 
su2cess  in  France. 

Cantelo  was  the  first  to  imitate  the  hen  in  supplying  the 
heat  from  above,  and  his  apparatus  was  very  fairly  successful, 
the  only  real  objection  being  its  great  cost.  Precisely  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  elaborate  contrivance  of  Minasi ;  it 


204        ARTIFICIAL   HATCHING   AND   REARING   OP   CHICKENS. 

hatches  chickens  with  success,  but  is  too  costly  ever  to  become 
popular,  unless  the  price  can  be  greatly  reduced ;  and,  on  the 
whole,  the  only  incubators  we  consider  well  adapted  to  general 
use  are  those  of  M.  Carbonnier,  Mr  Brindley,  and  Mr.  F. 
Schroder,  which  we  shall  first  describe,  referring  afterwards  to 
the  essentials  of  successful  management.  That  described  by 
Mr.  Geyelin  in  his  well-known  pamphlet  we  do  not  think  worth 
consideration. 

M.  Carbonnier's  incubator  is  so  simple  as  to  be  easily 
understood  without  a  diagram,  and  can  be  constructed  by  any 
country  workman.  The  heating  apparatus  consists  of  a  tin  or 
copper  cistern,  or  boiler,  of  any  desired  size,  made  with  a  flat 
bottom,  and  heated  by  a  lamp,  for  which  a  chamber  is  provided 
in  one  end.  The  lamp  must,  of  course,  be  constructed  to  burn 
for  a  certain  time  without  alteration,  and  it  is  essential  that 
the  lamp  chamber  be  in  the  end  of  the  cistern,  that  there  may 
be  a  proper  and  regular  circulation  of  the  water.  The  cistern 
should  be  kept  nearly  filled,  with  a  thermometer  constantly 
immersed  to  show  the  temperature. 

Under  the  cistern  slides  a  drawer,  in  which  the  eggs  are 
placed  upon  a  little  hay.  They  should  not,  however,  be  ex- 
posed direct  to  the  heat  of  the  cistern — the  great  failing  of 
most  incubators — but  ought  to  be  covered  with  a  piece  of 
canvas,  on  which  is  spread  a  layer  of  sawdust  half-an-inch 
thick.  The  sawdust  readily  becomes  warmed  by  the  heat  of 
the  cistern,  and,  resting  gently  upon  the  eggs,  warms  them  in 
a  more  natural  manner  than  any  other  incubator  we  know. 
In  the  egg-drawer  a  second  thermometer  should  be  kept,  to 
show  the  heat  to  which  the  eggs  are  actually  subjected.  It 
should  be  observed  that  in  this,  as  in  every  other  incubator, 
the  cistern  must  extend  some  inches  beyond  the  eggs  on  every 
side,  or  those  outside  will  not  get  their  proper  heat,  and  there- 
fore perish. 

The  management  of  this  incubator  is  very  simple.     The 


THE  INCUBATOR. 


205 


lamp  must  be  so  adjusted  that  the  actual  temperature  of  the 
sawdust  may  be  kept  at  a  standard  of  102°  or  103°,*  and  then 

*  As  this  temperature  varies  from  that  usually  given,  see  remarks  on 
the  subject  further  on. 


206        ARTIFICIAL   HATCHING   AND    REARING  OF   CHICKENS. 

regularly  and  properly  attended  to,  so  as  to  ensure  this.  Once 
a  day  the  eggs  must  be  withdrawn,  and  exposed  for  twenty 
minutes  to  the  cold  air  of  the  apartment ;  and,  when  replaced, 
each  egg  must  be  turned  over,  and  the  sawdust  laid  again  upon 
them,  and  sprinkled,  from  a  small  watering-pot,  with  water 
heated  to  105°,  so  as  to  make  it  slightly  moist.  In  all  these 
proceedings  Nature  is  most  exactly  followed,  and  the  result  will 
be  a  good  proportion  of  well-hatched  chickens. 

The  arrangement  of  Mr.  Brindley's  incubator  is  shown  by 
Fig.  14.  F  is  a  copper  boiler,  heated  either  by  a  gas  jet  or  by 
a  paraffin  lamp,  B,  furnished  with  a  reservoir,  also  marked  B, 
carefully  constructed  to  burn  with  steadiness.  From  this 
boiler  the  hot  water  flows  constantly  through  a  system  of 
metal  pipes  arranged  in  a  horizontal  plane  between  two  plates 
of  glass,  which  thus  form  a  hot-air  chamber  heated  by  the 
pipes.  Under  the  lower  glass  plate  slides  the  drawer,  0,  lined 
with  felt,  which  contains  the  eggs,  E.  At  each  side  of  the 
lamp,  at  A,  are  temporary  receptacles,  or  artificial  mothers,  to 
receive  the  chickens  for  the  first  day,  after  which  they  must  be 
removed  and  provided  for  separately.  The  hot-air  chamber  is 
provided  with  a  "  safety  valve,"  acted  on  by  the  expansion  of 
mercury,  which  can  be  balanced  to  open  at  any  desired  tempe- 
rature. Such  a  valve  appears  to  have  been  first  employed 
by  M.  Yall6e,  of  the  Jardin  des  Plantes,  Paris ;  but  we  believe 
Mr.  Brindley's  valve  to  be  superior,  and,  within  reasonable 
limits,  to  answer  its  purpose  very  fairly.  To  make  any  valve 
the  sole  regulator,  and  expect  it  alone  to  keep  the  heat  uni- 
form, as  some  appear  to  do,  is  absolute  nonsense.  All  that 
can  be  expected  of  any  valve  is  to  open  when  the  heat  becomes 
two  or  three  degrees  too  high,  and  admit  cool  air  to  reduce  it 
to  the  proper  temperature ;  but  if  the  air  be  carelessly  allowed 
to  get  really  hot,  the  valve,  though  open,  cannot  keep  the  heat 
down,  neither  can  it  guard  against  a  lower  temperature  than  is 
proper. 

Mr.  Brindley's  incubator,  it  will  be  seen,  differs  radically 


THE    INCUBATOR. 


207 


in  principle  from  the  preceding,  as  also  from  the  next  we  shall 
notice,  in  that  water  is  not  employed  directly  to  warm  the  eggs, 
but  simply  to  impart  heat  to  a  chamber  of  hot  air,  through 
which  the  heat  is  communicated.  Otherwise  the  management  is 
very  similar.  The  eggs  require  to  be  withdrawn  and  cooled 
once  a  day ;  and  before  they  are  replaced  they  should  be  care- 
fully turned,  and  sprinkled  with  warm  water,  which  should 


Fig.  15. 

also  be  allowed  to  moisten  the  felt  lining  of  the  tray  in  which 
they  are  contained. 

The  last  incubator  we  shall  describe,  and  the  last  yet  made 
public,  is  the  invention  of  Mr.  F.  H.  Schroder,  the  able 
manager  of  the  National  Poultry  Company,  and  is  shown  in 
section  in  Fig.  15.  Mr.  Schroder  has  adopted  an  altogether 
distinct  and  separate  boiler,  which  is  not  shown,  and  which  is 
connected  with  the  hot-water  tank,  C,  of  the  incubator  by 
two  pipes,  B  being  the  inlet  pipe  and  D  the  outlet.  This  tank 
is  provided  with  an  open  tube,  I — in  which  a  thermometer  can 


208        ARTIFICIAL    HATCHING   AND   REARING   OF   CHICKENS. 

be  placed  to  show  the  temperature — and  with  a  ventilating 
tube,  H,  which  is  open  at  top  and  bottom.  Under  the  tank 
slide  the  egg-drawers,  E,  which  in  area  resemble  the  quadrant 
of  a  circle,  Mr.  Schroder's  incubator  being  of  a  circular  form. 
The  bottoms  of  these  drawers  are  of  perforated  zinc.  Under  all 
is  a  tank,  F,  of  cold  water.  The  space,  G-,  above  the  hot  water 
tank,  is  surrounded  by  perforated  zinc,  and  partly  filled  with 
sand,  both  to  preserve  the  heat,  and  to  form  a  convenient  and 
warm  receptacle  for  the  newly-hatched  chickens.  Curtains 
are  also  provided  to  surround  the  sides  of  the  incubator,  and 
thus  guard  in  some  measure  against  change  of  temperature  in 
the  apartment. 

In  using  this  incubator  the  egg-drawers,  E,  are  partly  filled 
with  chaff,  or  other  similar  material,  on  which  the  eggs  are 
deposited.  The  water  from  the  cold  water  cistern  F,  under- 
neath them,  slowly  evaporates  with  the  heat  above,  and  pre- 
serves a  gentle  moist  atmosphere  around  the  eggs  during  the 
process  of  incubation,  percolating  as  it  does  through  the  chaff 
and  perforated  bottom  of  the  egg- drawer.  Ventilation  takes 
place  through  the  middle  shaft,  or  pipe,  H.  In  this  incubator, 
therefore,  sprinkling  the  eggs  is  not  needful,  all  that  is  neces- 
sary being  to  replenish  the  cold  water  tank,  F,  when  exhausted ; 
but  the  eggs,  as  in  all  incubators,  should  be  withdrawn,  cooled 
for  half  an  hour,  and  afterwards  turned,  every  day. 

We  have  no  hesitation  in  pronouncing  the  cold  water  tank 
in  this  incubator  a  most  valuable  invention,  and  one  which 
answers  its  immediate  purpose  well;  while  it  also,  to  some 
extent,  tends  to  equalise  the  temperature.  The  arrangement 
at  top  for  the  chickens  is  also  very  simple  and  convenient,  and 
the  whole  shows  both  originality  and  ingenuity  in  a  very  high 
degree. 

That  artificial  incubation  will  ever  commercially  supersede, 
in  ordinary  seasons  and  for  ordinary  eggs,  the  natural  process, 
we  do  not  for  a  moment  believe.  That  it  does  so  in  Egypt  is 


YALUE  OF  AN   INCUBATOR.  209 

not  the  slightest  argument ;  in  that  country  there  is  a  climate 
both  warm  and  steady,  whilst  in  this  it  is  both  cold  and  very 
variable.  The  value  of  incubators  is  to  hatch  when  hens 
cannot  be  had,  and  in  such  seasons  70,  60,  or  even  40  per  cent, 
will  often  be  thankfully  accepted  by  breeders  for  exhibition  as 
ample  return. 

Now  it  will  not  do  to  purchase  an  incubator,  light  the 
lamp,  put  in  the  eggs,  and  expect  that,  provided  the  lamp  be 
only  kept  burning,  all  will  go  right  The  consequence  would 
be  utter  failure.  And,  on  the  other  hand,  we  would  undertake 
to  hatch  somewhere  between  the  averages  we  have  quoted  with 
the  very  worst  Incubator  that  was  ever  constructed ;  only  per- 
haps changing  the  lamp,  if  very  faulty,  for  one  constructed  to 
burn  more  regularly.  Certain  precautions  must  be  taken, 
certain  conditions  must  be  secured,  and  certain  errors  must  be 
guarded  against. 

And  first  it  must  be  remembered  that  in  artificial  hatching 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  the  eggs  be  fresh.  Hens  will  hatch 
eggs  a  fortnight  old  or  more — incubators  scarcely  ever.  Of 
course,  if  the  artificial  process  were  perfect,  this  difference 
would  not  be.  But  it  is  not  perfect — it  is  a  substitute.  "We 
are  fighting  against  a  host  of  difficulties ;  we  must,  therefore, 
take  the  fact  as  we  find  it,  and  choose  only  eggs  that  do  not 
exceed  five  or  six  days  old.  This  caution  cannot  be  neglected 
with  impunity;  if  any  inventor  promise  otherwise,  let  the 
credulous  purchaser  only  try. 

Again,  the  incubator  must  be  placed  where  it  shall  not  be 
exposed  to  jarring  or  concussion.  That  timid  hens  always 
hatch  small  broods  is  well  known ;  yet  many  appear  to  think 
that  they  can  expose  their  artificial  hen  to  any  vibration  or 
noise  without  injury.  This  is  to  court  a  danger  which  Nature 
is  ever  seeking  to  avoid. 

That  the  eggs  should  be  daily  sprinkled  has  already  been 
mentioned.  Only  in  Schroder's  Incubator  can  this  precaution 

o 


210        ARTIFICIAL  HATCHING  AND   BEARING   OF   CHICKENS. 

be  dispensed  with ;  and  we  cannot  but  consider  that  gentle- 
man's evaporating  tray  the  most  valuable  feature  in  the  whole 
invention.  Still  it  answers  quite  as  well  to  sprinkle  with 
water  daily,  if  it  be  done ;  the  value  of  Schroder's  plan  is  in 
the  case  of  forgetful  operators.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
eggs  in  the  circumstances  we  are  considering  require  moisture 
more  than  under  a  hen  in  the  very  driest  season,  since  even 
then  eggs  naturally  hatched  get  a  little  humidity  from  the 
perspiration  of  the  hen's  body.  But  in  an  incubator  all  must 
be  supplied,  and  any  omission  is  death  and  failure. 

But  the  greatest  mistake  is  in  seeking  too  high  a  tempe- 
rature. In  every  published  work  we  have  seen,  the  standard 
and  proper  heat  for  the  eggs  is  given  as  105°,  and  we  have  not 
the  slightest  hesitation  in  saying  that  to  this  the  largest  pro- 
portion of  failures  is  due,  the  chickens  being  roasted  in  their 
shells.  We  do  not  mean  to  say  that  105°  will  kill  the  chicks, 
or  will  not  hatch  them;  but  we  do  say  that  some  hours  of  108° 
will  kill  a  few  ;  and  as  in  this  climate  it  is  impossible  to  main- 
tain a  constant  temperature,  if  105°  be  taken  as  the  standard, 
it  is  sure  to  be  exceeded  again  and  again  \  and  thus,  two  or 
three  perhaps  at  a  time,  the  chicks  are  killed.  On  the  other  hand, 
it  has  been  conclusively  proved  that  whilst  98°  is  not  enough  to 
hatch  successfully,  the  temperature  may  be  allowed  to  sink  so 
low  for  some  time  occasionally  with  little  injury.  Let  102° 
therefore  be  taken  as  the  proper  standard  for  the  eggs,  and 
more  chickens  will  be  hatched  than  have  ever  been.  A  rise  of 
several  degrees  will  then  not  be  fatal,  whilst  an  occasional  fall 
will  also  be  borne ;  and,  with  fresh  eggs,  a  good  hatch  may  be 
expected.*  And  this  leads  us  to  the  great  difficulty  of  all  artifi- 

*  Since  writing  the  above  we  have  had  a  communication  from  Mr. 
Brindley,  in  reply  to  a  note  embodying  the  above  opinion,  in  which  ho 
fully  concurs  with  the  view  we  have  here  expressed,  and  encloses  the  direc- 
tions issued  with  his  patent  incubator,  in  which  103°  is  given  as  the  proper 
temperature.  We  are  happy  to  find  our  judgment  thus  corroborated,  and 
willingly  give  him  credit  as  the  first  to  publish  a  correct  statement  on  the 
subject. 


MANAGEMENT   OP   THE   INCUBATOR.  211 

oial  hatching — that  of  maintaining  a  regular  temperature  in  our 
variable  climate.  The  same  lamp-flame  will  not  keep  up  during 
the  night  the  same  heat  in  the  water  by  many  degrees  as  it 
maintained  during  the  day,  and  the  difference  must  be  carefully 
provided  for,  or  disappointment  will  ensue.  This  is  where 
many  fail,  and  where  so  much  attention  is  requisite.  Changes 
of  weather  must  be  guarded  against,  and  compensated  in  like 
manner ;  and  for  all  this  there  must  be  the  most  constant 
reference  to  the  thermometers,  both  the  one  in  the  heating 
chamber  or  cistern,  and  the  other  which  should  always  be  kept 
in  the  egg-drawer  itsel£  It  is  here  that  Mr.  Brindley's  valve 
vrill  be  useful ;  but  it  will  not  do  to  depend  upon  it ;  it  will 
help)  but  it  will  not  do  the  work  of  supervision.  Mr.  Schroder's 
idea  of  surrounding  the  whole  with  curtains  is  also  good,  and 
may  be  applied  to  any  incubator.  But,  with  all  these  helps, 
the  lamp  itself  must  be  carefully  arranged  so  as  to  give  more 
heat  during  the  night  than  in  the  day,  and  in  cold  weather 
than  in  mild  ;  and  the  process  should  also  be  carried  on  in  the 
part  of  the  house  where  the  temperature  is  most  uniform.  A 
bedroom  is  a  good  place,  as  it  is  untenanted  in  the  day,  whilst 
at  night  the  occupants  help  to  keep  up  the  heat.  Another, 
and  the  best  plan,  is  to  place  the  incubator  in  a  room  with  a 
fireplace,  but  not  near  it,  and  to  light  a  fire  in  the  evening 
proportionate  to  the  coldness  of  the  weather.  By  this  means 
something  like  uniformity  may  be  preserved  in  the  room,  and 
this  will  go  a  long  way  to  maintain  it  in  the  machine. 

It  is  for  the  same  reason  that  in  the  simpler  forms  of 
incubators  the  hot  water  cistern  should  extend  several  inches 
beyond  the  eggs  on  every  side.  In  small  machines  this  is 
specially  required ;  and  the  neglect  of  so  necessary  a  precaution 
is  one  great  reason  why  the  small  ordinary  incubators  fre- 
quently purchased  almost  always  fail ;  the  outside  eggs  cannot 
be  kept  warm  enough  without  roasting  the  others. 

It  is  by  constant  and  careful  attention  to  such  minute 

o  2 


212        ARTIFICIAL   HATCHING   AND   BEARING    OF    CIIiCKiiXS. 

circumstances,  and  thus  only,  that  success  in  hatching  can  be 
attained.  No  particular  form  of  incubator  will  answer  without 
such  care,  and  with  it  almost  any  will  do,  though  the  three  we 
have  selected  are  indisputably  the  best.  The  two  last  men- 
tioned are  more  elaborate,  and  perhaps  more  complete ;  whilst 
that  of  M.  Carbonnier  is  the  cheapest  and  most  natural.  In 
his  system  we  particularly  like  the  layer  of  damp  sawdust 
gently  resting  upon  the  eggs,  and  communicating  a  moist  heat 
from  the  hot  cistern,  which  closely  approaches  the  natural 
hatching  of  a  hen,  and  we  believe  will  be  ultimately  found  to 
be  more  successful  at  the  very  last,  when  the  chicks  actually 
chip  the  shell,  than  any  other. 

To  the  rearing  of  the  chickens  without  a  hen,  after  they 
are  hatched,  we  shall  devote  a  separate  chapter. 


Just  as  these  pages  are  going  to  press,  \ve  have  received  a  drawing 
and  description  of  a  new  Incubator  invented  by  Col.  Stuart  Wortley,  well 
known  as  an  enthusiastic  poultry  amateur,  which  appears  to  us  superior  to 
all  those  above  described. 

D  is  a  saddle-backed   or  other   convenient   boiler,  furnished  with  a 


steam-dome,  B,  by  which  the  steam  is  collected  and  allowed  to  escape. 
Connected  with  the  boiler  is  a  supply  cistern,  C,  by  which  the  height  of 
the  water  is  always  kept  uniform,  a  glass  guage,  A,  showing  the  height  at 


THE   ARTIFICIAL   MOTHER. 

a  glance.  The  -water  in  the  boiler  is  always  kept  boiling,  and  circulates 
therefore  at  a  uniform  temperature  through  the  pipes  which  heat  the  egg- 
chamber.  These  pipes  pass  through  padded  holes,  and  hence  by  sliding 
them  more  in.  there  is  greater  heat  imparted  for  cold  weather,  or  by 
withdrawing  them  a  little  the  temperature  will  fall. 

The  radical  difference  in  principle  of  this  Incubator  from  the  preceding 
will  be  readily  seen.  Whilst  they  attempt  to  heat  the  water  to  some  given 
temperature,  and  have  to  encounter  the  almost  insuperable  difficulties  of 
then  keeping  that  temperature  from  variation,  Col.  Wortley  takes  advan- 
tage of  the  natural  law  which,  without  trouble,  gives  him  always  a  tempe- 
rature of  212°,  and  then  pr«vides  for  changes  by  giving  more  or  less  of 
heating  surface.  His  Incubator  has  not  yet  been  generally  tested,  or 
indeed  (March  31)  hardly  even  published ;  but  we  know  that  highly  satis- 
factory results  have  been  attained,  and  have  not  the  slightest  hesitation  in 
saying  that  the  principle  of  its  construction  is  scientifically  the  most 
accurate,  and  its  prospects  of  success  the  most  encouraging,  of  any  yet 
made  public.  For  the  use  of  the  engraving  we  are  indebted  to  tha 
proprietors  of  The  Fidd. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

REARING  CHICKENS  ARTIFICIALLY. 

THE  artificial  rearing  of  chickens  must  be  regarded  as  a 
question  entirely  distinct  from  the  artificial  hatching  of  them, 
and  may  often  become  advisable,  or  even  necessary,  when  they 
have  been  hatched  under  a  hen.  The  mother  may  die  just  when 
her  care  becomes  most  necessary ;  or  she  may  be  a  valuable  hen, 
whose  eggs  are  much  wanted,  and  whom  it  is  not  advisable  tc 
subject  to  the  wear  and  tear  of  a  young  brood.  And  lastly, 
some  persons  consider  that  it  is  absolutely  better  to  bring  up 
chickens  by  hand,  even  when  they  have  been  naturally  hatched ; 
believing  that  under  the  shelter  provided,  and  not  being  forced 
to  accompany  the  hen  in  her  rambles,  a  greater  portion  are 
reared,  that  they  grow  faster,  and  make  ultimately  finer  fowls. 
We  cannot  certainly  agree  in  such  an  opinion,  though  there 
are  respectable  authorities  who  hold  it.  We  admit  that,  with 
care,  chickens  may  be  reared  with  as  much  success  as  by  a  hen, 


214        ARTIFICIAL   HATCHING  AND   HEARING   OF  CHICKENS. 

but  more  we  cannot  concede;  and  even  for  this  much  the  greatest 
care  is  requisite,  and  proper  management  is  absolutely  necessary. 

Some  sort  of  an  "artificial  mother"  must  of  course  be 
provided,  and  the  best  form  of  all  is  the  ordinary  one.  This 
consists  of  a  board  sloping  down  from  four  inches  above  the 
ground  to  about  two  inches ;  and  for  a  brood  of  a  dozen  chicks, 
about  a  foot  square.  It  is  covered  on  the  under  side  with  a 
piece  of  lamb  or  sheep-skin  dressed  with  the  long  wool  on,  and 
which  should  only  be  tacked  round  the  edges  of  the  board,  so 
as  to  fall  a  little  slack  with  its  own  weight,  and  thus  rest  upon 
the  chickens.  By  attending  to  this,  as  well  as  to  the  slope  of 
the  board,  the  largest  and  smallest  chickens  will  be  accommo- 
dated with  equal  comfort.  A  few  small  gimlet  holes  should  be 
bored  in  this  cover  for  ventilation. 

Instead  of  sheepskin,  some  employ  a  manufactured  article 
which  resembles  a  number  of  cotton  wicks  hanging  thickly  from 
a  sort  of  linen  foundation.  We  should  prefer  this  when 
obtainable,  but  it  is  very  difficult  to  procure,  while  sheepskin  is 
always  at  command. 

The  board  so  furnished  must  be  mounted  on  two  sides  and  a 
back  of  wood,  the  back  being  two  inches  high,  and  the  sides,  of 
course,  sloping  up  from  that  height  to  four  inches  in  the  front, 
which  is  left  open  for  the  chicks  to  enter  by.  This  front  side 
is,  however,  furnished  with  a  curtain  of  flannel  four  and  a  half 
inches  deep,  which  thus  sweeps  the  ground  and  excludes  the 
cold  air,  whilst  the  chicks  push  under  it  either  way  with  the 
greatest  ease.  There  should  be  no  bottom  at  all.  We  believe 
the  addition  of  a  wooden  bottom  to  be  the  great  reason  why  so 
many  have  difficulty  in  rearing  chickens  artificially.  Such  a 
bottom  may  be  sanded  or  covered  with  ashes  with  the  most 
sedulous  care ;  but  it  will  harbour  vermin,  and  become  more  or 
less  tainted,  and  the  chickens  will  then  be  sure  to  droop  away. 
Moreover,  it  is  hopeless  to  expect  good  constitution  in  birds 
reared  more  than  the  first  fortnight  on  a  wooden  floor.  Let 


THE   ARTIFICIAL   MOTHER. 


215 


the  "  mother  "  be  set  on  the  ground,  evenly  covered  an  inch  deep 
with  sand  or  nice  dry  ashes ;  let  it  be  never  left  two  nights  in 
precisely  the  same  spot,  and  let  the  ground  it  is  to  occupy  be 


Fig.  16. 

A  is  the  frame  of  the  wire  run. 
B  are  the  wire  blinds,  each  movable,  and  thus  allowing  the  run  to  be  Cleaned 

out  easily. 
C  is  the  "  hood,"  which  takes  off — as  shown  at  the  dotted  line — and  is  used  when 

the  chickens  are  able  to  perch. 
D  is  the  hairy  cover — the  substitute  for  the  hen's  body.    This  is  detached,  and 

fits  either  along  the  dotted  line,  and  so  is  suited  for  chickens  not  able  to  perch, 

or  when  the  hood  and  perch  are  used,  forms  the  cover  to  the  same. 
E  Perch.  F  Tressels  and  stand. 

perfectly  clean  and  dry  before  each  removal.    Such  care  will  be 
well  repaid. 

In  severe  weather,  however,  it  is  almost  necessary  to  keep 
the  chickens  within  doors  till  about  three  weeks  old,  and  a 
wooden  floor  to  the  "mother"  then  becomes  necessary.  .No 


216        ARTIFICIAL   HATCHING  AND   REARING   OP   CHICKENS. 

better  arrangement  perhaps  can  be  devised  than  that  contrived 
by  Mr.  F.  H.  Schroder,  and  shown  in  Fig.  16;  which  is 
constructed  to  stand  upon  trestles  at  a  convenient  height  for 
cleansing.  The  roof  of  the  "  mother  "  is  here  made  so  as  to  be 
raised  at  pleasure  when  the  chickens  are  able  to  roost,  and  allows 
of  a  perch  being  introduced;  but  long  before  this  time  they 
ought  to  be  removed  to  the  ground,  if  designed  for  anything  but 
mere  in-door  amusement.  The  floor  of  such  temporary  homes 
must  be  scrupulously  cleaned  every  day,  and  sprinkled  with 
clean  sand  or  fine  ashes  so  as  completely  to  cover  the  wooden 
bottom. 

But  in  ordinary  weather  it  is  better,  warming  the  "  mother  " 
with  hot  water,  to  put  the  chickens  on  the  ground  at  once. 
In  front  of  it  must  be  a  covered  run,  which  may  be  about 
three  to  four  feet  long,  enclosed  at  the  sides  and  end  by  board, 
and  covered  with  glass.  The  board  enclosing  it  must  not  be 
less  than  a  foot  in  height,  with  a  few  holes  bored  near  the  top 
for  ventilation ;  otherwise  the  atmosphere  within  will  be  too 
close  for  the  chicks  to  live  in  it.  It  is  well  to  make  the  glass 
top  so  that  it  can  be  lifted  in  warm  weather  like  a  cucumber 
frame,  or  the  heat  will  become  stifling.  Neglect  of  these  pre- 
cautions also  causes  many  failures. 

In  front  of  the  covered  run,  again,  must  be  an  open  run 
fenced  in  and  covered  over  with  small  mesh  wire  netting.  This 
may  be  any  convenient  size,  and  should  extend  over  grass  if 
possible.  Communication  between  this  open  ruin  and  the 
covered  run  and  "  mother,"  is  maintained  by  one  or  two  small 
traps  large  enough  for  the  chicks  to  pass  when  tolerably  well 
grown,  which  are  left  open  to  allow  of  their  free  passage  in 
fine  weather,  but  should  be  kept  closed  when  it  is  wet  or 
very  cold. 

As  in  very  heavy  weather  the  glass  roof  of  the  covered  run 
is  not  sufficient  protection,  the  whole  arrangement  must  be 
placed  under  an  open  shed  in  some  sheltered  situation. 


MANAGEMENT   OF  THE    CHICKS.  217 

Cleanliness  in  the  two  runs  is  of  nearly  as  much  importance 
as  under  the  "  mother."  They  should  be  raked  over  constantly, 
if  gravel  or  sand ;  and  if  set  upon  grass,  the  whole  should  be 
moved  to  fresh  ground  every  two  or  three  days. 

The  fleece  or  upper  part  of  the  "  mother "  itself  is  liable, 
if  neglected,  to  get  infected  with  insects.  To  prevent  this, 
powdered  sulphur  should  be  frequently  dusted  into  it,  and  a 
little  paraffin  put  on  here  and  there  occasionally  will  also  in  a 
great  measure  expel  them  by  the  strong  smell.  No  point  is 
perhaps  so  universally  neglected  as  this.  But  chickens  when 
tormented  by  vermin  never  thrive,  and  we  believe  are  occa- 
sionally worried  even  to  death  by  this  intolerable  plague. 

Such  will  be  all  the  accommodation  needed  in  ordinary 
eummer  or  spring  weather,  during  which  the  chicks,  when  in  the 
"mother,"  will  keep  themselves  comfortably  warm.  But  for 
the  preservation  of  broods  hatched  in  January  or  February,  it 
will  be  necessary  to  add  artificial  heat,  which  may  be  done  by 
having  on  the  top  board  of  the  "  mother "  a  vessel  to  be  filled 
with  hot  water  the  last  thing  at  night,  and  once  or  twice  during 
the  day.  In  very  severe  weather  even  this  will  not  be  sufficient, 
and  the  water  must  be  kept  hot  through  the  night  by  a  lamp 
or  other  contrivance.  Of  course,  if  there  be  hot  air  apparatus 
for  a  greenhouse,  or  any  other  permanent  source  of  heat,  it  may 
be  made  available  in  any  convenient  manner,  and  a  lamp 
dispensed  with. 

The  feeding  will  not  differ  from  that  already  given.  Hard 
boiled  eggs  chopped  up,  and  very  coarse  oatmeal  moistened  with 
milk  or  water,  is  best  to  commence  with,  as  the  chickens  will 
begin  to  peck  much  more  readily  at  such  tiny  morsels  than  at 
anything  in  the  shape  of  sop.  Groats  chopped  up  small  are 
also  very  useful  in  teaching  them  to  feed.  This  is,  in  fact,  the 
only  difficulty,  and  is  best  got  over  by  tapping  on  the  floor  with 
the  end  of  the  finger,  at  the  same  time  clucking  like  a  hen. 
But  very  few  chickens  give  any  trouble  in  this  way,  and  the 


218        ARTIFICIAL   HATCHING   AND   REARING   OF   CHICKENS. 

art  of  feeding  is  one  which,  once  learnt,  is  fortunately  never 
forgotten.  Let  not  animal  or  green  food  be  neglected,  or  the 
chickens  will  never  be  superior  specimens ;  and  let  grain  be 
added  by  degrees,  but  still  letting  the  chief  diet  till  at  least  three 
months  old  consist  of  soft  food.  This,  however,  has  been  fully 
treated  of  in  Section  I.,  and  we  will  only  add  a  caution  that 
the  young  birds  be  never  neglected.  Remember  that  chicks  with 
a  hen,  if  at  liberty,  can  almost  always  procure  some  food — 
enough  to  maintain  life  at  least — if  their  regular  nieal  be  for- 
gotten; whilst  those  reared  in  this  manner  are  entirely  de- 
pendent upon  their  owner's  care,  and  one  forgotten  meal,  even  if 
not  fatal  at  the  time,  frequently  lays  the  foundation  of  mortal 
disease,  by  leaving  the  poor  little  things  with  no  strength  to 
endure  any  inclemency  of  the  weather.  The  want  of  such 
support  is  what  makes  bread  sops  so  objectionable  a  food  for 
young  birds. 

To  sum  up  all :  WARMTH  (with  ventilation),  CLEANLINESS, 
and  CONSTANT  FEEDING  will  give  unfailing  success  in  the  rearing 
of  chickens  artificially  j  and  when  there  has  been  signal  failure, 
tho  cause  will  be  found  in  neglect  of  one  of  these  three.  The 
whole  art  is  therefore  simple  enough,  and  every  large  poultry- 
keeper  should  make  himself  to  some  extent  conversant  with  it, 
as  such  experience  may  often  prove  serviceable,  even  should  he 
be  one  of  those  who  shun  "incubators"  as  they  would  the 
plague.  For  instance,  a  hen  cannot  cover  well  more  than  six 
or  seven  chickens  if  hatched  very  early,  but  can  hatch  well  ten 
or  eleven  :  hence  a  poultry-breeder  experienced  in  artificial 
rearing  has  much  advantage  over  another  ignorant  of  it,  as 
he  can  set  all  his  hens  in  January  (when  "broody"  hens  are 
very  scarce)  on  their  full  complement  of  eggs,  and  when 
hatched  give  each  as  many  as  she  can  properly  protect,  and 
bring  the  remainder  up  by  hand.  To  exhibitors  especially  the 
possibility  of  thus  getting  early  stock  in  increased  numbers  is 
of  great  and  special  importance. 


SECTION    VI. 


THE  BREEDING  AND  MANAGEMENT  OF  POULTRY 
UPON  A  LARGE  SCALE, 


SECTION    VI. 


VARIOUS  circumstances,  to  which  we  need  not  particularly 
refer,  have  lately  contributed  to  direct  much  attention  to 
wholesale  poultry-breeding;  and  in  all  probability  much 
time  will  not  elapse  before  it  is  successfully  taken  up  by 
British  capitalists.  We  cannot  therefore  pass  the  subject 
by,  although  to  give  minute  details  and  rules  for  every 
department  of  it  is  obviously  impossible  in  one  section  of 
a  work  of  this  description. 

Such  details  would  moreover  be  of  no  practical  benefit, 
since  they  must  vary  in  nearly  every  case.  The  utter 
inutility  of  mere  theoretic  minutiae  has  already  been 
notably  proved ;  and  we  are  far  more  concerned  to  point 
out  sound  principles,  which,  if  general,  may  be  still  plain 
and  reliable  in  their  application,  and  easily  adapted  to  any 
particular  circumstances. 

So  much,  and  so  much  only,  is  intended  by  this 
Section.  It  is  not  meant  to  be  so  much  dogmatic  as 
suggestive,  on  a  subject  which  is  confessedly  attended 
with  many  difficulties,  and  has  never,  in  England,  been 
as  yet  practically  illustrated. 


POULTRY  ON  THE  LARGE  SCALE. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

SEPARATE     ESTABLISHMENTS     FOR     REARING     POULTRY.        POULTRY 
OX  THE    FARM.       CONCLUSION. 

Ix  seeking  to  give  such  information  as  may  be  useful  to  any 
contemplating  tlie  wholesale  rearing  and  keeping  of  fowls  as  a 
distinct  business,  we  labour  under  the  great  disadvantage  that 
there  is  no  successful  concern  of  the  kind  in  England  to  which 
we  can  refer.  That  this  is  not  for  want  of  a  market  for  either 
eggs  or  chickens,  is  proved  by  the  continuous  high  prices  of  the 
one,  and  the  many  millions  of  the  other  yearly  imported  from 
France  and  Ireland.  Still  it  is  the  fact  ;*  and  for  any  actual 
examples  which  we  can  consider  worthy  of  imitation,  we  have 
therefore  been  compelled  to  cross  over  to  France,  where  such 
enterprise  is  carried  on  to  an  extent,  and  with  a  success  little 
dreamed  of  in  this  country,  and  which  proves  that  here  also 
the  first  who  shall  bring  to  bear  upon  it  the  same  amount 

*  In  this  and  other  observations  which  more  or  less  directly  appear  to 
reflect  upon  the  well-known  National  Poultry  Company's  establishment  at 
Bromley,  it  is  not  meant  to  assert  that  the  concern  there  is  a  losing  one;  on 
this  point  we  have  no  information  whatever,  and  make  no  such  imputation 
of  the  slightest  kind.  But  it  has  become,  from  sheer  necessity,  a  mere 
assemblage  of  pens  for  breeding  and  showing  prize  poultry,  and  selling  eggs 
therefrom ;  and  has  altogether  failed  to  provide  a  supply  of  fowls  for  the 
market  at  a  cheap  rate,  as  every  ono  predicted  it  would,  and  on  which 
ground  it  was  ostensibly  inaugurated. 


222  POULTRY   ON   THE   LARGE   SCALE. 

of  practical  knowledge,  sound  judgment,  and  good  business 
management,  will  not  fail  to  reap  a  similar  harvest. 

It  is,  however,  very  necessary  to  make  these  reservations. 
Nothing  is  more  easy  than  to  publish  sanguine  calculations 
showing  from  one  to  three  hundred  per  cent,  profit  to  be 
derived  from  such  concerns,  and  more  than  one  such  have  we 
seen;  but  unless  these  computations  are  founded  upon  some 
sound  practical  knowledge  of  such  details  as  are  contained  in 
the  foregoing  pages,  they  cannot  but  prove  delusive.  It  was 
here  that  Mr.  Geyelin  so  signally  failed.  With  many  good 
ideas — some  of  which  have  been  found  truly  valuable — he 
utterly  lacked  that  real  knowledge  of  fowls  which  could  alone 
have  turned  them  to  account;  and  hence  his  well-known 
pamphlet,  full  as  it  was  of  really  useful  conceptions,  and 
awakening  as  it  deservedly  did  very  great  attention  to  the 
subject  of  wholesale  poultry -breeding,  abounds  also  with 
absurdities  which  could  only  provoke  a  smile  from  every  one 
who  had  actually  kept  fowls.  He  was  essentially  a  theorist ; 
and  since  his  theories  involved  certain  principles  which  were 
fundamentally  wrong,  that  his  plans  should  fail  practically  was 
an  inevitable  necessity.  And  that  they  have  done  so  is  an 
admitted  fact. 

Mr.  Geyelin's  fundamental  idea  was,  that  with  proper  care 
and  judicious  feeding,  fowls  could  be  bred,  reared,  and  kept 
for  any  purpose — either  for  chickens  or  for  eggs — far  more 
economically,  and  in  better  health,  in  close  confinement,  than 
even  with  a  moderate  degree  of  liberty.  And  to  those  ignorant 
of  the  subject  he  apparently  demonstrated  his  point.  He 
alleged  truly  that  the  chickens  would  be  protected  from  wet 
and  cold ;  that  they  would  never  be  over-tired ;  and  that  they 
would  always  be  properly  fed ;  and  in  his  arrangements  he 
therefore  provided  that  they  should  be  hatched  and  reared  on 
wooden  floors.  But  he  forgot  that  such  treatment  would  not 
give  constitution,  without  which  no  system  can  in  the  long  run 


CLOSE   CONFINEMENT.  223 

be  remunerative ;  and  tins  one  flaw  in  the  argument  has 
rendered  valueless  all  his  after  reasoning.  On  the  first  appear- 
apce  of  Mr.  Geyelin's  pamphlet,  we  ventured  to  predict  that 
whilst  he  might  keep  in  health  and  good  condition  grown 
fowls,  his  plans  would  fail  altogether  with  regard  to  chickens ; 
and  since  chicken-rearing  is  at  the  very  root  of  all  plans  for 
keeping  poultry  on  the  large  scale,  would  practically  fail  alto- 
gether. The  event  has  justified  this  prognostication  to  the 
letter ;  for  whilst  the  National  Poultry  Company  have  kept  in 
good  health,  and  taken  numerous  prizes  with,  adult  birds  from 
their  small  pens,  they  have  not  succeeded  in  sending  any 
amount  of  dead  stock  to  the  London  market ;  and  on  a  recent 
visit  to  their  establishment  at  Bromley,  we  found  the  Geyelin 
system  of  rearing  the  broods  altogether  abandoned,  and  the 
chickens  were  being  brought  up  out  of  doors  as  usual.  At 
a  smaller  establishment  in  the  provinces,  built  on  the  exact 
model  of  that  at  Bromley,  we  found  precisely  similar 
results. 

Such  being  the  case,  we  shall  not  give  any  detailed  descrip- 
tion of  Mr.  Geyelin's  plans,  referring  those  who  may  be 
desirous  of  investigating  them  to  his  own  pamphlet  for  further 
information.*  But  in  justice  to  him  we  must  nevertheless 
remark  that  he  has  rendered  real  assistance  to  the  advancement 
of  poultry-breeding  of  no  small  value.  He  has  conclusively 
proved  that  adult  fowls  can  be  kept  in  health  in  pens  of  only 
six  feet  by  twelve,  and  demonstrated  in  connection  with  this 
the  great  value  and  importance  of  deodorisation ;  he  was  the 
first  in  this  countiy  to  insist  publicly  upon  the  necessity  of 
giving  soft  food  as  well  as  grain ;  and,  most  important  perhaps 
of  all,  he  pointed  out  perspicuously  the  design  of  nature,  and 
the  necessity  to  the  most  profitable  result,  of  making  the  fowls 
feed  the  land  whilst  the  land  fed  the  fowls.  These  are  im- 

*  "  Poultry  Breeding  from  a  Commercial  Point  of  View."  London ; 
Simpkin  and  Marshall 


224  POULTRY   ON   THE   LARGE   SCALE. 

portant  services,  and  it  would  ill  become  us  not  to  acknowledge 
them,  though  we  cannot  follow  him  to  his  conclusions. 

In  attempting  ourselves  to  give  such  information  as  may  be 
useful  to  those  contemplating  this  branch  of  commercial  enter- 
prise, we  shall  in  the  first  place,  with  the  help  of  an  interesting 
work  *  published  under  the  authority  of  the  French  Minister 
of  Agriculture,  give  a  short  and  illustrated  description  of  one 
of  the  latest  and  best  managed  establishments  in  France,  after- 
wards making  such  remarks  as  may  appear  advisable. 

The  establishment  in  question  belongs  to  the  Baroness  de 
Linas,  and  is  situated  at  Charily,  a  picturesque  village  near 
Paris.  Left  a  widow  some  years  since,  with  a  small  estate  of 
about  fifteen  acres,  which  bears  the  name  of  Bel  air,  Madame  de 
Linas,  partly  for  amusement  and  partly  in  order  to  augment  a 
rather  scanty  income,  turned  her  attention  to  poultry,  and  has- 
for  some  time  succeeded  in  both  objects.  Many  of  her  arrange- 
ments are  peculiar;  but  all  are  the  result  of  much  thought, 
and  are  worthy  of  attentive  examination. 

The  poultry-house  at  Belair  is  represented  in  perspective  by 
the  accompanying  plate.  It  is  in ,  two  storeys,  each  7  J  feet  iii 
height ;  measures  in  all  60  by  15  feet,  and  is  divided  by  par- 
titions into  four  compartments  of  equal  size.  This  house  is 
designed  for  the  accommodation  of  about  1,200  laying  hens, 
with  a  due  proportion  of  cocks,  which  are  lodged  in  the  four 
upper  apartments;  whilst  the  lower  are  devoted  to  storing, 
cooking,  hatching,  and  other  necessities  of  the  business. 

Round  the  front  and  ends  of  the  house  there  is  a  gallery, 
five  feet  wide,  at  the  level  of  the  upper  floor,  roofed  like  a 
verandah,  on  which  the  doors  of  the  fowl-houses  open,  and  to 
which  the  birds  ascend  by  broad  step-ladders.  The  gallery  carries 
a  small  railway,  travelled  by  a  truck,  and  at  each  end  is  a  lifting 
tackle,  by  which  simple  means  the  manure  and  eggs  are  col- 

*  "  Poulos  et  CEufs,"  par  Eug.  Gayot.  Paris :  Librairie  Agricole,  26, 
Rue  Jacob. 


2-26 


POULTRY   OX    THE   LARGE    SCALE. 


lected  and  lowered  down,  whilst  straw,  sand,  and  anything  else- 
required,  are  hauled  up,  and  distributed  with  the  least  possible 
amount  of  labour.  The  doors  of  the  hen-houses  do  not  open 
on  hinges,  but  slide  in  panels,  so  as  always  to  leave  the  gallery 
clear.  They  are  furnished  with  traps,  as  usual,  by  which  the- 


Fig.  17.    View  of  Hen-house. 

birds  can  enter  when  they  are  closed.  The  object  of  thus- 
elevating  the  hen-houses  are  two-fold — dryness  and  salubrity, 
and  security  from  thieves  and  vermin,  as  the  ladders  can  be 
taken  away  at  night,  and  all  access  cut  off. 

The  interior  arrangements  of  all  four  upper  apartments,  or 
hen-houses,  are  precisely  similar,  and  are  shown  in  Figs.  17  and  18. 


HEN-HOUSE. 


227 


Each  apartment  is  designed  for  about  330  fowls,  and  the 
interior  dimensions  are  16  feet  by  15.  The  perches,  shown  in 
plan  at  j,  Fig.  18,  consist  of  flat  planks,  four  or  five  inches 
wide,  with  only  the  top  corners  rounded  off,  and  arranged  on  a 
frame  so  as  to  be  movable,  at  a  heighi  of  16  inches  above  the 


npH 


yiiiiTn  mn  i>  living 
TOT 


Fig.  18.    Plan  of  Hen-house. 

floor.  Such  perches  never  cause  crooked  breast-bones;  the 
heaviest  fowl  can  reach  them,  and  there  is  never  any  dispute 
for  the  highest  place,  which  is  always  the  case  when  arranged 
en  echelon  or  ladderwise. 

The  nests,  shown  at  N  N,  are  arranged  in  five  tiers  against 
the  front  and  back  walls.  They  are  formed  very  simply,  by 
dividing  long  square  troughs,  open  at  the  top,  into  compart- 


228  POULTRY   ON   THE   LARGE   SCALE. 

ments,  by  means  of  partitions  sliding  in  grooves.  The  bottoms 
of  the  troughs  project,  so  as  to  form  broad  ledges,  along  which 
the  hens  can  walk;  and  inclined  ladders,  shown  at  E,  give 
ready  access  to  each  ledge,  and,  consequently,  to  any  nest. 

The  floor  is  formed  of  resinous  pine  wood,  in  order  to  repel 
vermin.  Every  crevice  is  stopped  up,  and  the  whole  scraped 
clean  and  profusely  sanded  every  morning  whilst  the  birds  are 
at  their  first  meal.  In  addition  to  this,  the  whole  is  well 
fumigated  and  whitewashed  twice  a  year. 

Air  is  admitted  to  each  apartment  by  the  pipe  B,  which 
rises  through  the  middle  of  the  floor,  and  which  is  brought 
from  over  the  furnace  in  the  kitchen,  as  shown  at  o  in  the 
plan  of  the  ground-floor  (Fig.  20).  By  this  means  the  tem- 
perature in  winter  is  kept  warm.  Another  pipe  through  the 
ceiling  carries  off  the  products  of  respiration.  In  summer, 
ventilation  is  further  promoted  by  keeping  open  the  Venetian 
blinds,  F,  with  which  the  house  is  furnished.  A  is  the  door 
opening  upon  the  gallery. 

Fig.  19  shows  the  arrangement  of  the  open  runs,  which 
occupy  about  an  acre  and  a-half  each,  and  are  of  a  wedge- 
form,  converging  on  the  compartments  of  the  fowl-house,  and 
opening  towards  the  further  end,  where  they  are  bounded  by  a 
clear  running  brook.  Each  run  is  provided  with  a  spacious 
shed,  built  on  rising  ground,  and  small  clumps  of  trees  and 
bushes  are  also  grown,  to  afford  shelter  from  the  sun.  Shallow 
pits,  filled  with  fine  sand,  are  also  provided.  Every  three 
months  a  fourth  of  each  run  is  sown  with  hay-seed,  and  lightly 
dug  over,  in  order  to  renew  the  turf  and  bury  all  manure.  A 
supply  of  worms  is  also  in  this  way  afforded  to  the  fowls. 

The  fences  might,  of  course,  be  of  any  adequate  kind,  but 
are  constructed  at  Belair  in  a  very  ingenious  manner.  A 
double  row  of  poplar,  elm,  or  apple-trees  is  planted,  and 
suffered  to  grow  for  several  years  unmolested.  Then  each  tree 
is  nearly  cut  through  with  a  bill-hook,  and  bent  over,  but 


POULTRY   ON  THE  LARGE  SCALE. 

TJ 


leaving,  of  course,  some  of  the  wood  and  a  broad  strip  of  the 
bark.  The  effect  of  this  treatment  is  to  make  the  trees  send 
out  vigorous  shoots  in  every  direction,  of  which  the  largest  are 
again  cut  and  laid  down  as  before ;  and  the  whole  being  kept 


HATCHING-ROOM. 


231 


in  bounds  by  a  rude  trellis,  the  effect  in  a  few  years  is  a  dense 
living  wall  of  foliage,  which  is  absolutely  impassable. 

At  the  side  of  the  runs  for  the  grown  fowls  is  seen  another 
large  grass  field,  reserved  for  the  young  chickens.  Against  the 
back  wall  of  this  run  a  number  of  rude  sheds  are  erected,  each 
covering  a  coop,  as  represented  in  Fig.  O,  page  46. 

The  arrangements  of  the  ground- floor  of  the  poultry-house  are 
shown  in  plan  by  Fig.  20,  and  in  perspective  by  Figs.  21, 24  and  25. 


Fig.  21.    The  Hatchins-mom. 

Xo.  1  on  the  plan,  and  Fig.  21  in  perspective,  represent  the 
hatching-room,  which  is  at  one  end  of  the  building,  and  is  very 
ingeniously  contrived.  The  nests  P  are  arranged  on  a  double 
dresser,  running  round  three  sides  of  the  room,  and  consist  of 
wicker  baskets  of  an  oblong  square  form,  made  larger  at  the 
top  than  the  bottom,  in  order  better  to  accommodate  the  hen's 
head  and  tail.  Each  basket  has  a  cover,  and  a  small  ring 
for  affixing  a  label,  to  denote  the  date  of  hatching.  A  table 
with  drawer,  a  thermometer,  registry-book,  with  writing  mate- 


232 


POULTRY   OX   THE   LARGE   SCALE. 


rials,  and  a  small  cupboard,  complete  the   interior   furniture 
of  this  room. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  room  to  the  nests,  and  outside 
the  wall,  are  two  tiers  of  coops  for  feeding  the  hens.  The  con- 
struction of  these  feeding  coops,  which  measure  sixteen  inches 
wide  by  eighteen  long,  is  more  clearly  shown  by  Fig.  22,  D  being 
a  side  section,  and  E  a  front  view.  They  open  at  the  rear  into 
the  hatching-room  by  trap-doors,  built  in  the  wall,  and  in  front, 
on  ledges.  The  food  and  water  are  supplied  in  two  earthen  pans, 
to  which  the  hens  get  access  by  thrusting  their  heads  through 


Fig.  22. 

the  bars.  The  partitions  between  the  coops  project  beyond 
the  bars,  so  that  the  hens  cannot  see  each  other  whilst  feeding. 

The  management  of  the  hatching-room  is  easily  understood. 
Each  hen  is  taken  in  turn  from  her  basket,  and  put  through 
the  trap-door  into  a  coop  until  all  are  occupied,  the  pans  having 
been  replenished  previously  with  food  and  water.  They  are  put 
back  in  the  same  order  as  they  were  taken  out,  the  attendant 
never  leaving  the  room,  except  to  clean  out  the  coops  and  re- 
plenish the  feeding  vessels,  should  there  be  more  hens  than  the 
number  of  coops  will  contain  at  one  time.  Thus  all  is  con- 
ducted without  noise  or  disturbance. 

When  hatched  and  strong,  the  hen  and  her  brood  are  con- 
veyed to  the  rearing-field  in  the  quietest  manner,  without  even 
taking  them  out  of  the  nest,  by  slipping  the  hatching-basket  (as 
already  noticed,  of  a  taper  shape),  into  an  iron  ring  furnished 
with  handles  as  shown  in  Fig.  23. 


THE    KITLIIIIX. 


233 


Xo.  2  jon  the  plan  is  the  kitchen,  shown  in  perspective  by 
Fig.  24.  This  contains  a  furnace,  F,  with  two  copper  boilers  for 
cooking  the  roots  and  vegetables,  a  dresser,  T,  and  the  necessary 


Fig.  24.    The  Kitchen. 


234 


POULTRY   ON   THE    LARGE    SCALE. 


shelves  and  utensils.  In  one  corner  is  a  staircase,  E,  leading  to 
the  cellar  below,  in  which  the  potatoes  and  vegetables  are 
stored.  Pipes  from  over  the  furnace  convey  warm  air  to  the 
hen-houses  above,  and  to  the  hatching-room,  when  required. 

Fig.  25  and  No.  3  on  the  plan  show  the  arrangements  of  the 
store-room,  which  contains  the  stock  of  meal  and  grain,  in  bins 
carefully  designed  for  its  good  preservation^  The  corn-bins  are 


Fig.  25.     The  Store-room. 

shown  on  a  larger  scale  by  Fig.  26,  and  are  the  invention  of 
M.  Audeod.  The  framework,  F,  is  of  wood,  the  sides  of  wire 
gauze,  properly  supported  by  additional  wooden  stays,  T.  Inside 
these  is  also  a  ventilating  chimney,  similarly  constructed  of  wire 
gauze,  on  a  wooden  frame,  which  passes  through  both  the  lid  and 
bottom  of  the  bin,  and  maintains  a  draught  of  air  through  the 
centre  of  the  mass,  whose  exterior  is  also  ventilated  through  tho 
gauze  sides.  The  bottom  is  formed  of  a  double  slope,  slanting 
like  a  shallow  trough  from  the  sides,  A  B,  to  the  middle  line,  c  D, 
and  the  trough  also  sloping  lengthways  from  back  to  front.  At 


CORN    BIN. 


235 


the  lowest  point  is  a  shallow  spout,  D,  to  which  access  is  afforded 
by  a  shutter;  and  it  will  be  readily  seen  that  the  bin  will 
empty  itself  to  the  very  last  grain. 

The  Audeod  corn-bin  deserves  to  be  adopted  in  all  large 
poultry  establishments.     From  the  free  ventilation  provided,  the 


Fig.  26.    The  Audeod  Corn  Bin. 

grain — however  long  kept — never  becomes  musty,  but  is  pre- 
served in  a  sound  state,  and  the  bottom,  or  stalest  portion,  is 
always  used  first.  The  elevation  on  legs  is  also  not  only  con- 
venient for  delivering  the  corn  into  the  receiving  vessels,  but 
secures  it  from  the  attacks  of  vermin. 

The  bins  at  Belair  contain  nearly  thirty  bushels  each,  and 


236  POULTRY    ON   THE   LARGE   SCALE. 

five  of  them,  c  C  (Fig.  20),  are  ranged  in  a  line  at  one  end  of  the 
room,  lozenge  fashion,  in  order  that  air  may  have  free  access  to 
them.  At  the  other  end,  one  each  side  of  the  door,  are  two  large 
chests,  B  B,  for  meal  and  bran.  These  cannot  of  course  be  made 
of  gauze,  and  are  best  of  sheet-iron.  They  have,  however,  gauze 
covers,  and  are  inclined  at  the  bottom  like  the  corn-bins,  so 
that  the  least  aerated  portion  is  first  used.  The  necessary 
measures  and  vessels  complete  the  furniture  of  this  room. 

No.  4  on  the  plan  (Fig.  20)  represents  the  egg-room,  of 
which  a  view  is  unnecessary,  as  it  is  simply  furnished  round  the 
walls  with  shelves,  H,  on  which  are  placed  the  oblong  square 
boxes  in  which  the  eggs  are  packed.  Each  box  has  marked 
upon  it  its  date,  which,  with  the  date  on  which  it  leaves  the 
establishment,  is  entered  in  a  registry  book.  A  separate  corner 
is  appropriated  to  eggs  for  hatching. 

A  separate  building  is  devoted  to  fattening  purposes,  fitted 
up  all  round  the  interior  with  tiers  of  cages,  each  large  enough 
to  contain  one  bird.  The  fowls  are  either  crammed  by  hand,  or 
by  a  machine  which  has  been  recently  invented  for  that  purpose, 
but  of  which  we  cannot  approve. 

Such  is  the  establishment  at  Belair — confessedly  one  of  the 
most  complete  and  perfect  of  its  kind  in  France,  and  which  has 
been  conducted  for  several  years  with  the  most  eminent  success. 
This  being  so,  any  critical  remarks  may  appear  invidious,  but  we 
must,  nevertheless,  make  a  few  observations  respecting  modifi- 
cations which  we  think  desirable. 

"We  confess  to  not  liking  the  arrangements  for  hatching. 
To  set  the  hens  in  baskets  on  shelves  may  perhaps  be  inevitable 
in  large  establishments,  but  the  birds  should  certainly  have  more 
room  to  stretch  their  legs  when  off  the  nest  than  is  afforded  by 
a  pen  a  few  inches  square,  and  it  is  also  needful  they  should  have 
access  to  a  dust-bath,  or  they  are  tormented  by  vermin  to  an 
intolerable  degree.  It  would  be  better  to  give  up  more  space 
to  the  hatching  department,  so  as  to  give  each  pair  of  hens  a, 


EGGS   FOR   HATCHING.  237 

small  yard,  and  set  them  on  the  ground.  For  instance,  twenty 
pens,  10  feet  by  3  feet,  would  each  contain  two  nests  at  one  end, 
would  give  room  for  exercise  and  ablution,  and  would  accom- 
modate forty  hens  in  a  space  of  only  30  feet  by  20.  This  would 
be  amply  sufficient  to  hatch  3,000  chickens  per  annum,  and  they 
will  be  of  much  stronger  constitution  than  on  the  plan,  ingenious 
us  it  is,  which  we  have  described. 

Neither  do  we  consider  an  acre  and  a  half  of  run  the  most 
really  economical  allowance  for  330  fowls,  whilst  we  should  also 
recommend  the  keeping  of  them  in  flocks  of  lesser  number. 
It  is  true  that  by  the  quarterly  digging  of  the  runs  much  evil  is 
prevented ;  but  by  keeping  say  120  fowls  on  an  acre  this  would 
be  dispensed  with,  and  the  additional  rent  would  be  more  than 
compensated  by  economy  of  food  and  saving  of  labour. 

Lastly,  we  consider  it  a  very  unadvisable  plan  to  select  the 
eggs  for  hatching  from  even  the  finest  of  those  laid  by  the 
general  stock.  It  is  far  better,  from  amongst  the  large  mass  of 
chickens  reared  annually,  to  select  the  very  finest  specimens, 
and  reserve  them  in  pens  of,  say,  one  cock  to  from  four  to  six 
liens,  for  breeding  alone.  Many  advantages  will  be  thus 
secured.  In  the  first  place,  all  the  eggs  will  for  certain  be  of 
first  class  quality,  and  well  fecundated.  The  cocks  in  the 
general  runs  may  also  be  reduced  to  about  one  in  twenty,  or 
even  dispensed  with ;  thus  sending  more  to  market,  and  saving 
their  food.  And  lastly,  a  share  of  the  honours  of  exhibition 
may  be  secured,  and  sums  not  to  be  despised  realised  by  selling 
at  high  prices  to  amateurs.  At  the  same  time,  these  select 
yards  must  not  be  allowed  to  degenerate  into  mere  pens  for 
breeding  "  fancy  fowls,"  as  will  be  the  case  if  not  watched. 
They  must  be  mainly  regarded  as  the  sources  of  supply  to  the 
general  yards,  and  will  then  be  found  a  valuable  addition  to 
the  arrangements  at  Belair. 

For  the  scale  of  that  establishment,  say  1,200  laying  hens, 
•we  do  not  think  its  arrangements  can  be  further  improved,  save 


238  POULTRY  ON  THE  LARGE  SCALE. 

that  for  the  small  detached  shelters  over  the  coops  in  the 
chicken  nursery,  it  would  be  far  better  to  substitute  one  long 
and  spacious  shed.  We  should  ourselves  also  prefer  the  hen- 
houses on  the  ground-floor,  in  which  case  the  kitchen,  store- 
room, &c.,  might  be  placed  behind ;  but  these  are  merely 
matters  of  opinion  and  detail. 

But  on  a  larger  scale  some  further  modifications  will  be 
desirable,  if  only  for  the  simple  reason  that  the  triangular 
shape  of  the  runs  will  be  very  inconvenient  if  multiplied ; 
whilst,  if  rectangular,  as  they  must  be  the  width  of  the  houses, 
they  would  be  nearly  as  awkward  from  their  length  and  nar- 
rowness. It  is  needful  to  mention  this,  as  we  have  a  strong  con- 
viction that  with  less  than  10,000  fowls  there  is  not  sufficient 
return  to  be  worth  the  attention  of  the  English  capitalist.  And 
whether  there  be  an  adequate  market  for  the  produce  of  such 
a  number  must  in  all  cases  be  carefully  ascertained  before  such 
an  undertaking  be  engaged  in.  This  much  being  taken  for 
granted,  we  would  make  the  following  suggestions  respecting 
the  formation  of  a  chicken  farm. 

Of  the  10,000  fowls  we  would  reckon  400  as  the  breeding 
stock,  and  9,600  as  laying,  or  ordinary  stock,  divided  into  80 
flocks  of  120  each.  These  flocks  should  each  have  an  acre  of 
run ;  15  acres  more  would  be  required  for  the  chicken  run 
or  nursery ;  3  acres  for  the  breeding  yards,  and  the  remainder 
for  hatching  runs  and  buildings,  pigs,  &c.,  &c.  In  all,  100  acres. 

The  simplest  and  best  arrangement  would  be  to  have  the 
grass  runs,  say  80  feet  by  550  feet,  with  a  house  or  close 
shed  80  feet  by  4  feet  at  one  end,  provided  along  its  whole 
length  with  traps,  for  the  fowls  to  enter.  One  long  perch  will 
then  roost  all  the  birds,  and  the  nests  will  also  be  contained 
in  a  single  row.  In  front  of  the  house  should  be  a  shed 
extending  about  20  feet,  and  floored  with  hard  gravel  or 
asphalt,  under  which  the  food  will  be  thrown,  and  to  which 
the  birds  can  retreat.  The  runs  should  be  side  by  side,  and 


STEAM    ENGINE.  239 

two  rows  of  houses  arranged  back  to  back,  with  a  passage 
between,  into  which  their  doors  open.  This  passage  should 
have  a  sky-light  roof,  and  the  houses  be  only  fronted  into  it 
with  netting ;  this  part  of  the  arrangement  being  like  that  of 
Mr.  Lane's  establishment,  figured  at  page  65,  only  that  each 
house  is  much  longer.  The  nests  should  similarly  be  reached 
by  trap-doors  from  the  passage,  which  should  be  traversed  by 
a  railway-truck  "to  collect  the  eggs  and  manure. 

By  such  an  arrangement,  all  the  needful  operations  will  be 
conducted  with  the  least  possible  labour. 

The  conditions  of  health,  fecundity,  and  profit  will  not 
differ  from  those  enunciated  in  the  first  section  of  this  work. 
But  in  a  large  concern  all  operations  will  range  themselves 
into  five  great  divisions  :  the  breeding-yards,  the  hatching-pens 
or  rooms,  the  chicken-nursery  or  rearing  runs,  the  ordinary 
stock-yard,  and  the  fattening  pens.  These  must  be  arranged 
in  any  way  that  will  best  secure  economy  of  labour  and  effective 
supervision. 

As  much  machinery  as  possible  should  be  employed  in  pre- 
paring the  food,  and  to  work  these  a  small  steam-engine  will 
be  found  very  economical,  whilst  it  may  be  made  auxiliary  to- 
cooking  purposes. 

Great  care  must  be  taken  that  the  land  is  well  drained, 
and,  if  possible,  slightly  sloping  to  the  south.  A  light,  dry 
soil  is  also  very  desirable,  but  good  drainage  will  overcome 
great  difficulties  in  this  respect. 

The  selection  of  breeds  is  of  the  very  utmost  importance. 
\Yith  a  good  market  for  both  eggs  and  fowls,  we  would  recom- 
mend one- fourth  Dark  Brahmas,  one-fourth  Dorkings,  one- 
fourth  Houdans,  and  one-fourth  a  cross  between  the  three, 
obtained  by  fii«t  mating  the  largest  Brahma  hens  with  a 
Dorking  cock,  and  then  breeding  from  the  progeny  with  the 
largest  Houdan  cocks  that  can  be  procured.  Of  this  cross  we 
cannot  speak  too  highly,  as  admirable  chickens,  thus  bred,  may 


240  POULTRY    ON   THE   LARGE   SCALE. 

be  sent  to  market  at  ten  weeks  old — an  earlier  period  than  is 
possible  with  any  other  fowls  we  know.  All  the  runs,  except 
the  Dorkings,  will  yield  an  abundance  of  eggs,  and  that  breed 
will  be  most  valuable  for  table  fowls,  and  also  as  mothers.  If 
another  breed  be  desired,  La  FISche  should  be  selected,  for  the 
sake  of  their  fine  large  eggs,  combined  with  good  and  heavy 
table  qualities.  Except  in  very  favourable  situations,  Creves 
are  too  delicate  to  be  remunerative. 

The  profitable  disposal  of  the  manure  should  be  especially 
studied,  and  for  this  reason  we  should  strongly  recommend  some 
measure  of  farming  operations  to  be  carried  on  in  combination. 
A  number  of  pigs  should  likewise  be  kept,  as  they  may  be 
fattened  on  what  the  fowls  refuse.  Or  ducks  will  also  make 
capital  "  save-alls." 

We  are  reluctant  to  enter  into  figures,  we  have  seen  so 
many  visionary  and  delusive  statements  j  but  we  know  that  some 
data,  however  rough,  will  be  expected.  It  is  only  as  such  that 
we  offer  the  following ;  and  if  our  figures  do  not  show  three 
hundred  per  cent,  as  the  probable  profit,  it  is  because  they  are 
based  upon  some  attempt,  however  rough,  at  calculation  from 
actual  facts,  not  upon  the  sanguine  theories  of  persons  totally 
ignorant  of  fowls.  We  shall  still  suppose  an  establishment 
of  10,000  birds. 

For  capital  we  would  estimate — 

10,000  fowls,  at  2s.  each            £1,000 

Buildings,  Fittings,  Engine,  Plant  and  Utensils,  including 

2  horses  and  carts      ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  1,350 

One  month's  food  ...         ...         ...         ...  150 

Spare  cash  working  capital           ...         500 

Say  total  capital £3,000 

Our  plan  of  commencing  would  be  to  purchase  first  simply 
400  first-class  breeding  birds  at  an  average  of  about  20s.  each 
{some  would  be  much  more  than  this).  The  stock  for  the  second 


ESTIMATE   OF   EXPENSE.  241 

year  would  then  cost  less  than  £1,000,  but  there  would  belittle 
to  spare  for  sales. 

Our  estimate  for  the  working  of  such  an  establishment 
is  based  upon  the  fact,  that  of  all  the  breeds  mentioned  above 
except  Dorkings,  150  eggs  per  annum  may  be  obtained  from 
each  hen.  Including  them  the  average  will  be  140  all  round, 
or  with  the  cocks  say  130.  On  the  large  scale,  we  are  als«> 
satisfied  that  the  keep  of  a  fowl  will  not  exceed  3s.  per  annum, 
and  from  these  facts  we  are  justified  in  reckoning  every  fowl 
in  the  yard  as  representing  a  gross  profit  (including  the  manure) 
over  and  above  her  food,  of  4s.  per  annum,  leaving  all  other 
expenses  to  be  deducted.  A  rough  estimate  may  then  stand 
thus — 

RECEIPTS.  i  EXPENSES. 


Gross  profit  over  food  from 
9,600  stock  fowls,  at  4s. 
per  annum  each  £1,920 


Rent— 100  acres,  at  40s.   ...  £200 

Taxes 40 

Interest  on  capital  of  £3,000 

at  5  percent 150 

Wages — 2    men   with  their 

families     200 

Horse  keep 60 

Fuel  and  attendance  for  en- 
gine            100 

Gross  balance  of  profit  1,170 

£1,920  I  £1,920 

In  this  estimate  nothing  is  allowed  for  renewing  the  stock,  because  all 
the  fowls,  which  should  never  be  allowed  to  become  old,  can  be  sold  when 
fatted  for  more  than  they  actually  cost  as  delivered  from  the  breeding- 
yards. 

There  will  be  other  items  of  expense  which  cannot  be  sec 
down.  Railway  carriage  is  difiicult  to  estimate,  and  will  affect 
profit ;  there  is  also  wear  and  tear  to  allow  for.  But  on  the 
other  hand,  the  above  balance-sheet  represents  the  profit  of 
the  laying  stock  alone,  and  a  gross  profit  of  at  least  equal 
amount  will  be  derived  from  the  dead  stock  sent  to  market 
from  the  breeding-yards.  Of  this  we  give  no  details,  as  tlio 

Q 


242  POULTRY   ON   THE    LARGE   SCALE. 

returns  from  chickens  sold  at  ten  to  eighteen  weeks  old — and 
they  should  not  be  older — may  be  easily  estimated.  In  the 
main,  therefore,  the  above  figures  will  be  found  sufficient ;  and 
if  they  show  a  somewhat  more  moderate  return  than  preceding 
writers  have  promised,  they  are  at  least  likely  to  be  realised, 
and  certainly — making  the  sole  and  all  important  stipula- 
tion of  a  market — offer  sound  inducements  to  the  enter- 
prising capitalist. 

It  is,  however,  to  the  farmer  that  poultry-breeding  on  a 
large  scale  more  especially  commends  itself;  and  it  may  be 
pursued  most  successfully  on  either  of  two  quite  distinct 
systems.  A  large  number  may  be  kept  all  through  the  year, 
and  a  portion  of  the  farm — say  one-fourth — permanently 
appropriated  in  regular  rotation  to  their  use,  the  fowls  being 
removed  to  fresh  ground  every  year.  Or,  on  the  other  hand, 
a  moderate  breeding-stock  only  may  be  permanently  retained, 
but  a  large  number  of  chickens  reared  from  them  every  season, 
which  should  be  sent  to  the  fields  as  soon  as  cropped,  in 
travelling  houses  mounted  on  wheels.  There  they  will  speedily 
get  fat  at  very  little  expense,  and  may  be  killed  off  for  the 
market.  The  first  plan  is  most  suitable  for  large  farmers  with 
good  business  and  administrative  capacity;  the  last  will  be  best 
adapted  for  smaller  holdings.  But  either  system  will  not  only 
yield  a  handsome  profit  in  itself,  but  greatly  benefit  the  other 
produce ;  both  by  manuring  the  ground,  and  by  removing 
myriads  of  worms  and  insects  very  injurious  to  the  growing 
crops.  Indeed,  considering  the  ravages  yearly  committed  on 
every  farm  by  these  tiny  pests,  it  is  to  us  most  astonishing 
that,  instead  of  the  bungling  methods  of  extermination  at 
present  employed,  the  farmers  of  England  do  not  have  recourse 
to  the  philosophical  and  lucrative  remedy  which  nature  has 
provided. 

The  choice  of  breeds  will  be  generally  as  already  mentioned, 
but  will  vary  with  circumstances.  Dorkings  should  not  be 


FAKSI   POULTRY.  243 

when  eggs  are  the  principal  object ;  nor  Brahmas  when 
dead  poultry  is  the  end  in  view.  If  only  one  breed  is  desired, 
Houdans  will  be  best,  with  a  few  Brahma  hens  for  hatching 
and  crossing. 

It  is  on  the  farm  poultry  ought  to  be  most  profitable  ; 
and,  in  such  circumstances,  we  consider  every  well-chosen 
stock-fowl  should  represent  a  clear  profit  of  five  shillings  per 
annum ;  whilst  we  are  quite  sure  chickens  will  yield  a  much 
heavier  weight  of  meat  for  the  same  outlay  than  any  other 
stock  whatever.  The  time  is  fast  approaching  when  this  will 
be  generally  recognised ;  and  then,  and  not  before,  will 
poultry-breeding  occupy  its  legitimate  position  in  the  general 
economy  of  agriculture. 

To  contribute  in  some  slight  degree  towards  this  result, 
has  been  one  object  of  the  preceding  pages. 


LONDON: 
CASSELL,  PETTER,  AND  GALPIN,  BELLE  SAUVAGE  WORKS, 

LULGATE   HILL,    E  C. 


